They are often found in church graveyards, our cemetery being no exception, due to churches being built on sacred pagan sites, and due to a spate of church building after the Norman Conquest, which led to many being planted. In fact, it is very rare to find very old specimens of yew outside of church grounds; this beauty (pictured) is a fine example, and is found within the grounds of Waverley Abbey, Surrey.
The yew has been associated with death and eternity by both Christians and Pagans; perhaps because of the length of time they live. The Druids held the yew sacred, observing new trunks being rooted where old branches touched the ground; symbolising the cycle of death and rebirth. Thankfully, the representation of everlasting life was largely forgotten by the 17th century, as it is noted that yews probably wouldn’t have survived the religious destruction of the Puritans. They are planted in a very deliberate manner in churchyards, in relation to funeral processions, and in our cemetery they are dotted along the paths, crowning the entrances to the chapels. The remains of Anglo Saxon churches suggests they were planted around the building in a circle.
Although poisonous, yews have a rich magickal history. Sacred to Hecate, the Yew was said to purify the souls of the dead as they entered the underworld of Hades, and it is one of the five sacred trees in Irish mythology.
It is popular for decorations at Yule; firstly because it is an evergreen, but also because the winter solstice represents the cusp between the season of death and the season of life, the days soon getting longer.
Yew should never be used by the lay herbalist due to its toxicity.
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