Parish of St Peter’s Leckhampton
Parochial Church Council
Churchyard Regulations
Introduction
We are fortunate in possessing a beautiful churchyard. It is very important to preserve its beauty, which easily can be spoilt by the introduction of memorials of unsuitable material or design and by inappropriate displays of shrubs and flowers on individual plots.
These regulations are in accord with the Diocesan Regulations (click here).
The Introduction of Memorials into the Churchyard
There is no automatic right to erect a memorial in the churchyard and the plot remains the property of the church. Permission must be obtained and, strictly speaking, requires the authority of the Chancellor of the Diocese. However the Chancellor has delegated certain powers to parish priests and these are detailed below. Certain types of memorial are not permitted, either because they are felt to be inappropriate in appearance, or out of keeping in a Christian burial place, or because they are difficult to maintain, or a combination of these reasons.
Sometimes there will be existing examples in a churchyard of a type of memorial which is no longer permitted. This is not in itself a reason for granting permission for further examples.
Please speak to the parish priest if your query is regarding a memorial bench.
Applying for Permission
Requests for permission should be made in writing to the parish priest in the first instance, using the application form in Schedule 2 of the Churchyard Regulations document (here); this can also be obtained from the Parish Office on request.
If the parish priest is unable or unwilling to grant permission, then a Faculty will need to be applied for to the Diocesan Advisory Committee on the Care of Churches. Advice on how to start this process may be obtained from the Parish Office .
What the Parish Priest can permit
Provided the parish priest is happy with the proposed inscription, permission can be granted for the following:
1. simple upright grave markers provided they fall within the range and size and material described below,
2. sloping ‘open-book’ memorials, provided that they fall within the range and size and material described below,
3. wooden crosses provided they do not exceed the dimensions described below,
4. additional inscriptions on existing memorials,
5. in respect of cremated remains within the Garden of Remembrance, the memorial should measure 18″ (450mm) by 12″ (305mm) and the inscription should be portrait oriented,
6. in respect of burial of cremated remains within an existing grave, simple flush horizontal markers.
Size, Shape and Design of the Memorial
Please see Schedule 1 in the Churchyard Regulations document here.
Materials, Lettering & Decoration
Please refer to Schedule 1 of the Churchyard Regulations here.
Responsibility for Maintaining Memorials
The PCC cannot be responsible for maintaining memorials in the churchyards. Checks may however be carried out from time to time to ensure that memorials have not become hazardous. If it appears that a memorial is in a dangerous condition, the PCC may decide that it should be laid on the ground in order to avoid accidents.
Those wishing to erect a memorial should bear in mind that the church insurances do not cover damage to churchyard memorials, and they may wish to consider arranging their own insurance cover. Anyone who erects a gravestone is legally responsible for any damage it may cause.
Maintenance of Plots
Except where the design of a headstone includes an integral vessel for plants or cut flowers, flowers may only be placed in a removable container. Wreaths and cut flowers may be placed on any grave but should be removed as soon as they appear to be withered or dead.
No artificial flowers are allowed except for Remembrance Day Poppies and Christmas wreaths and these should be removed after a reasonable time
The PCC may at its discretion at any time remove and dispose of any wreaths or cut flowers placed in the churchyard if it is considered that they have deteriorated and/or become unsightly.
Bulbs and small annual plants may be planted in the soil of any grave. No trees or shrubs may be planted without the agreement of the PCC. These may be removed if deemed unsafe or unsightly.
Where possible, a minimum of 24” (610mm) is to be left around the plot to allow access for mowing.