The clergy and congregation of St Swithun’s, near Crediton, in Devon, were “bemused” after a video clip on YouTube, showing two teenagers vaulting and jumping over tombs in their churchyard, was featured in the national press last Friday.

Villagers had condemned the video as “sick and disrespectful”, The Daily Telegraph reported.The teenagers had filmed themselves engaging in free running, or parkour, as

it is more popularly known. Parkour aims to enable participants to move fearlessly yet gracefully between obstacles.

But the Revd Catherine Carlyon, who has responsibility for Sandford and Upton Hellions, said: “No damage was caused, and those concerned have since apologised.”

The church was more interested in raising funds to build a place where people, including the young, could meet. “It will cost £99,000, and £29,000 has already been raised.”