A church has come under fire over plans to dig up thousands of bodies - including the founder of Western Australia - to make way for a car park . St John 's Stoke church , in Guildford , Surrey , wants to build a community centre in its grave yard and replace the current centre with a car park . But the scheme , which would see remains dug up , cremated and reburied in a mass grave , has already sparked outrage with opponents producing a 1,400-signature petition in a bid to save the graveyard . St John 's Stoke church ( pictured ) , in Guildford , Surrey , wants to build a community centre in its grave yard and replace the current centre with a car park . The body of Sir James Stirling , a navy admiral and the first governor of Western Australia , is buried in the graveyard . An international dispute threatens to break out as the body of Sir James Stirling , a navy admiral and the first governor of Western Australia , is buried in the graveyard - but the church is not sure where . Reverend Mark Woodward , the church 's rector , said : 'We have heard a large number of views ranging from strong opposition to our plans , to very strong support in favour . 'We hope and pray that something very positive will come from the proposal to see land used to help fund an excellent new community project . Sir James Stirling become the first Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Western Australia . It was Sir James Stirling ’ s persistence that finally persuaded the British government to establish the Swan River Colony in Western Australia . The British naval officer , who was born in Lanarkshire , Scotland in 1791 , had explored the area before lobbying officials to allow him to establish a settlement . And it was a move that would eventually see him become the first Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Western Australia . Stirling entered the navy at the age of 12 and went on to serve in the Napoleonic wars and the war between Britain and the US in 1812 . He married Ellen Mangles at Stoke Church , Guildford , on September 3 1823 . They went on to have five sons and six daughters . Stirling travelled to Australia a few years later as part of a navy assignment and joined an inland expedition – eventually taking him to the west . He would go on to oversee the development of the surrounding area and remained in his post until 1838 when he resumed his naval career . Stirling became an admiral in the 1860s and died in retirement at Guildford on April 22 1865 . 'We are in contact with the descendants of some families who believe they have ancestors interred in the graveyard and we are listening very carefully . We are committed to working very closely with all interested parties . 'It is inspiring to see our church facilities put to such great and varied use by so many people every week , but we are simply running out of space . ' Sir Stirling was buried at the site following his death in 1865 but when a new rectory was built on the western graveyard in 1977 his stone was accidentally smashed and moved to the entrance of the church . If all goes to plan for the church , remains will be placed in a memorial garden behind the new community centre , with the remaining headstones placed around the perimeter of the church . The reverend believes the admiral 's body was moved with the stone , a claim that is hotly disputed , and argues the car park is needed because church turnout has risen sharply . The last burial at the church is thought to have taken place in the 1870s . Eventually , if all goes to plan for the church , remains will be placed in a memorial garden behind the new community centre , with the remaining headstones placed around the perimeter of the church . Church leaders will take their plans to church commissioners , in Westminster , London , on April 22 .
St John 's Stoke church plans to build new community centre and car park . But scheme would involve digging up five of bodies in graveyard . The church , in Guildford , Surrey , is the resting place of Sir James Stirling . He was the first governor of Western Australia and a British navy admiral . Opponents of the graveyard plan have produced a 1,400-signature petition .