THE GLOWING GRAVESTONE

In the darkness of a County Durham cemetary a beacon stands out - a glowing gravestone! come nightfall, crowds gather around the graveyard of the Holy Trinity Church in Wingate to view the eerie sight for themselves. What is the eerie glow is it an act of god or can this be explained. The mystery of the glowing grave has left villagers baffled but there are plenty of theories being put forward in a bid to explain the phenomena.
IT'S had people rubbing their eyes in disbelief, thinking that they are witnessing a miracle. The gravestone that glows in the dark is clearly visible at night in the otherwise pitch-black cemetery next to Wingate Holy Trinity Church.
Now its eerie appearance has become a major talking point in the east Durham village and for several days, groups of people have gathered in the evenings to witness the spooky sight.
But far from being an act of God, it now appears that the mystery has a more down-to-earth explanation.
The Reverend Martin Vaizey, Priest in Charge of Wingate Holy Trinity and St Francis' Church at Hutton Henry, believes the glow is from a security light on a nearby house, while other villagers suspect it is being caused by new street lights installed as part of a local improvement scheme.

( The road and nearest lights are at the far side of the Church, here seen from the back of the Gravestone )

Mr Vaizey said: "Even when it is pouring with rain and blowing a gale people are still gathering in their little groups at night to look at it. "I knew it was being caused by either a street light or another light because you don't get these sort of things happening on their own".
The glowing gravestone is made of black marble and is a memorial to Corporal George Henry Longstaff, as member of the 18th Hussars, who was killed in action in march 1918.
Jim Alcock, of Woodland View, Wingate, said: "One of my friends in the club asked me if I had seen the gravestone that glows in the dark. My first thought was 'I don't believe that' but he told me where to stand and look over the cemetery wall and sure enough it was shining.
"It seems so far away from the nearest lights and I think there must be something in the stone itself reflecting the light.
" Lots of people, not just in Wingate, have heard about it and it has certainly created a talking point."
(Main article by Steve Hilton - The Northern Echo)