Churchyards are sacred ground and very special places of peace,
tranquillity, beauty. For these and other reasons, people continue to
want a churchyard burial or interment of ashes either for themselves or for
their loved ones.
What should I do first?
If you wish a Church service followed by a burial or cremation, we suggest you
contact a Funeral Director who will be able to pull together all the different
parts that make up a special service for your loved one.
Can anybody be buried in the Churchyard?
Anybody who lives within the parish boundary, those named on the church electoral roll
and those who die in the parish all have a legal right to be buried in the
churchyard. Where there is still space available, relatives may be buried
in an existing family grave. If a person is not baptised or a worshipper
at this church, just so long as the above criteria are met, this will not pose
a problem.
Can I intern my loved one’s ashes in the Churchyard?
Should you wish your loved ones remains interred in the Churchyard, and you have
connections to the church, it should be possible to either put the ashes in a
plot specifically for ashes or in a family burial plot. A short service will be
conducted by a member of the clergy. For more information, please contact the
Benefice Administrator.
How soon after the funeral can there be a headstone?
You need to wait at least twelve months for the ground to settle. This will
also allow time to think about what sort of memorial and inscription you would
like. Please contact a local stonemason who will know the Churchyard and the
Chancellors regulations with regards to headstone legalities.