There are no legal rights-of-way through the churchyard, but the paths have been used by parishioners as short cuts for many years, and the church allows this as long as there is no misuse.
On entering the churchyard from the Marlston Road, the oak Lych Gate is worth inspecting, with its carved panels of fruit and flowers. This was erected in 1947 by Lt. Col. C.J. West, who lived in Wolverton Lodge opposite the Post Office, in memory of his wife Mary. His name was added after his death.
Lych gates were built as sheltered places where undertakers could rest coffins before burial services.
The churchyard, which was enlarged and improved in 1860 and again in 1887, is now used only for the burial of ashes under the yew tree by the gate. Among the stones in the grass is one to the memory of Rev. Denis Janes, vicar here from 1966-1975.
If you stand with your back to the gate and look above the Adelaide Room roof, you will see a Royal Crown and inscription “Adelaide Chapel, Founded Anno Domini 1835” (see the history of the church in the church guide leaflet).
The coffin-shaped gravestone by the church entrance (the inscriptions are almost unreadable) commemorates Rev. Walter Sheppard, first incumbent from 1835-1852, and his wife Frances.
The stone war memorial, now commemorating the dead of both world wars, was unveiled by relatives of the fallen in 1920 during a simple and beautiful service. It records the the dates of the first world war as 1914-1919. The annual Remembrance Sunday parade assembles here, when representatives of the British Legion, the Army and Air Force from the School of Military Survey, scouts and cubs, guides and brownies, and youth club, lay their wreaths at the foot of the cross.
If you pass the war memorial, among the headstones on your left are two inscribed with the surname Boshier - one of Joseph, described as postmaster in the village from 1868-1897 (although this was the stonemason’s error, as he helped his wife who was sub-postmistress) and the other of his son Walter Edward, who held the same position from 1897-1940.
On passing them and turning right along the footpath, at the corner you will see a small iron cross. It was suggested in the parish magazine at the beginning of this century that iron crosses should take the place of headstones because they were cheaper, and here the idea had been anticipated.
Someone who could not afford a headstone was the wife of Alber Thorngate, and you will see that his (on your right) was erected by public subscription. This man, described as an engineer, was working on a threshing machine on a Chieveley farm and caught his hand in the machinery, which dragged his arm inside. His arm had to be amputated and he died four days later.
Nearing the iron gate leading to the main road, you will see on the wall the stone plaque listing the names of those men of Hermitage who “served in the King’s forces in their country’s hour of need and returned safely - Te Deum Laudamus” (God must be thanked). It again records the dates of The Great War as 1914-1919.
Almost opposite it are headstones commemorating some of those who fell, one of them an official War Graves Commision headstone. There is now a sign by the lynch gate to acknowlege the presence of this grave. Not all the names appear on the war memorial.
A little further, on your right, under the tree, is the grave of Arthur Townsend, who was 5 years 10 months old when he died from scarlet fever in 1902.
Retracing your steps, turn along the footpath to the left, and you will find the back of the churchyard, facing the boundary hedge of the present vicarage garden, the tall white cross to the memory of Rev. Philip Longmore, vicar of the parish for 49 years, from 1852-1901. There are therefore three incumbents buried in the churchyard - surely very unusual?
Walking back towards the church, you will pass the small area dedicated as a Memorial Garden - in memory of Graham and Mary Hall who worshipped at the church for many years. Overlooking the garden is a bench installed in memory of Barry Bevan.
Leading off the the left, behind the vestry, is a path to The Old Vicarage, which was built shortly after the church.
All the memorials in the churchyard have been recorded with the exception of one where the entire surface of the stone had weathered and no inscription remained.