METHODISTS are mystified by the appearance of a memorial tree that has been planted in their chapel grounds.

The tree is accompanied by a plaque bearing the name of Maud May – but no one in the congregation at Carnon Downs Methodist Church knows her.

Parishioners say they fear it may have been planted in the wrong place and are keen to find whoever put it there.

Churchgoer Daphne Brown said: "It's a mystery to us. There isn't a graveyard there; they've just planted a tree at the back of the chapel – but it seems to have been done professionally."

Plaque

The base of the tree is surrounded by green plastic and a plaque has been stuck into the ground beside it bearing the words: "In memory of Maud May."

Mrs Brown has called the undertakers in Devoran and contacted the crematorium in Truro to see if they had a record of the name, but nobody has been able to help.

"It was weird that it just appeared," said Mrs Brown.

One theory is that the tree was put there by a garden centre on behalf of a family but that there was a mix-up over the location.

The tree, of an as yet unidentified species, was found by churchgoers on January 20.

Contact

The Reverend Margaret Barnes from the church said: "It's been planted very professionally, but we would like to have some contact from the person responsible.

"We did wonder if it might have been planted at the wrong church, as none of our congregation knows the person to whom it's dedicated.

"The people of Carnon Downs would be delighted to hear from you."

Anybody who has information about the tree or the identity of Maud May is being asked to contact Mrs Brown; please call 01872 862209.