Old headstone ?

[Nick29]

Can any of the eagle-eyed people here make anything out from this old gravestone that I came across while searching for my g.g. grandfather's grave ?  It was right up against the church side wall, and was told by the church archivist that some of the stones in this location were moved here when the original church on the site was rebuilt.  It's tantalising because I can pick out the odd word. We had to pull the branches of a bush away from the stone, and I think the rubbing of the branches have worn some parts faster than others.

[Seoras]

Phew,only at the bottom,'also the  body of Walter' then a leaf covers the surname

[Ruskie]

I'm not very good at these puzzles, but might the name at the bottom be Walter Bates? 

But at the top of the stone the first letters (of a name?) look a bit like W Y ...

"Here lies the body of Walter Yates who departed this life Aprill ..."

At the bottom -: "Also the body of Walter ?ates..."

[Seoras]

Could be right there Ruskie,but maybe Yeates,as I am seeing an E.

[teaurn]

Would this be a good case for monumental rubbing, sometimes the rubbing can pick up traces of lines which the eye cant see.

Although I think you would need the permission of the Church as if not done properly it can cause more damage

[Nick29]

It's not my family, so the interest is purely academic.  I didn't spot the leaf over the name until I got home, and the churchyard is 2 hours drive away 

I'm interested because the stone appears to be quite old, and I wondered if anyone could spot a date anywhere.

I'm not entirely sure, but I think the date 1758 appears after the word 'April'

[Seoras]

Certainly looks like it Nick and there appears to be a 3 before that date.

Beginning of the word 'whosoever' after the date too,next line down.

[Nick29]

The church was rebuilt in 1867, and the stone stands very close to the side wall of the church.   The church archivist told me that several graves near the original church wall (it's St Johns Church, Eltham, Gtr London, by the way) had to be moved when the new bigger church was contructed, and were re-sited when the work was finished. 

[Nick29]

I've asked a friend if he can remove the weed and re-take the photo.