Headstone And Surrounds Approximately 16 Metres South Of South West Angle Of South Porch Of Church Of St Andrew

The headstone and its surrounds are located approximately 16 metres south of the southwest corner of the south porch of the Church of St. Andrew in Rochford. This headstone marks the grave of James Banyard, who was born on 31 January 1800 and died on 31 October 1897. The headstone is simple in design, featuring rounded angles at the top, pyramidal heads on the corner stones, and chamfered side and end stones. The inscription notes that James Banyard was the founder of The Peculiar People in Essex. This sect originated as a grassroots revivalist movement in the 1850s and was known for its agricultural and social reforms. However, their exclusive belief in natural healing led to tensions with the public, particularly as smallpox vaccinations gained popularity. The two earliest surviving intact chapels of The Peculiar People, located in Tillingham and Steeple, Essex, are also listed buildings.