Fear as coffin rises to the surface of a churchyard

England: Shoddy undertakers have been blamed for a coffin rising back to the surface in a churchyard.

They failed to ensure Ernest Swaby’s grave was dug deep enough in February 2009, a church court ruled.

The coffin end sticks out and its lid has been broken by the headstone or rotted.

The CofE court agreed to exhumation and reburial at St John’s Washingborough, Lincs.

The Co-op faces a bill for the work and court costs.

The judge said: “I hope that this distressing matter can now be resolved.”

The bizarre and "distressing" case of the risen coffin went before a judge at the Church of England's Consistory Court.

Mark Bishop, Chancellor of the Diocese of Lincoln and a judge of the Consistory Court was called in by the Venerable Timothy Reed Barker the Archdeacon of Lincoln and the church wardens of St Johns and asked for permission for total exhumation of Mr Swaby and his coffin and then re-burial.

Chancellor Bishop said: "Regrettably, the undertakers failed to ensure that the grave digger had dug the grave sufficiently deep.

"In consequence of this failure the coffin is now exposed to the surface at one end where the ground has sunk.

The Co-op has until December 23 to make any representations as to why they should not foot the bill.