CHURCHYARDS

RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

WHO CAN BE BURIED IN A CHURCHYARD?

 
As a general rule, any parishioner and anyone who dies within the parish, as long as there is space available.

CAN GRAVE SPACES BE RESERVED?

In order to be fair to everyone, the Church Councils at Orsett, Bulphan and Horndon-on-the-Hill have ruled that no spaces may be reserved.

WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE CHURCHYARD?

Although by ecclesiastical law the Incumbent (the Rector) owns the churchyard, the Chancellor of the Diocese has control of the churchyards. He/she can delegate some authority to the parish priest.

WHO IS THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DIOCESE?

The Bishop's legal officer, who is a Judge.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE CHURCHYARD?

Every change in a churchyard, including the erection or removal of a monument, kerb, ornament or inscription requires the authority of the Chancellor. In certain cases the Chancellor delegates to the parish priest the authority to give permission for the erection of a gravestone or the addition of an inscription.

MANY OLD GRAVES HAVE KERBSTONES. WHY ARE THEY NO LONGER ALLOWED?

It is for practical reasons. Grasscutting machines do not fit between graves with kerbstones, and strimmers can damage monuments. Hand trimming is impractical in a large churchyard.

The upkeep of churchyards is hard work and time-consuming. These days churches cannot afford to pay someone to care for the churchyard. Although some individual graves are lovingly cared for by the family of the deceased, the majority are not. The bulk of the work is carried out by volunteers who are retired, many of them in their seventies.

WHAT IF MONUMENTS, KERBS, ORNAMENTS OR INSCRIPTIONS ARE INTRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION?

The Chancellor has the legal power to order the removal of any item introduced without permission, or which does not comply with the conditions set out in the permission form. Any person responsible for such unlawful items may be ordered to pay the cost of removing them and the legal costs involved.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE PUT EDGING STONES, FENCE OR WOODEN SURROUNDS TO GRAVES

These are unlawful and have to be removed. We understand that people want to make the grave look nice; however, it is not appropriate for a graveyard to resemble a garden or a park- The Chancellor expects the Rector and Church CouncH to arrange the removal of unlawful items. It is not a job we like having to do, therefore we hope people will not introduce unlawful items to the graves.

SURELY WE HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE THE MEMORIALS WE WANT?

There is no right to place a memorial over a grave. The Chancellor controls what type of memorials and inscriptions are appropriate for a Christian burial ground.

SO WHAT DOES THE CHANCELLOR ALLOW?

The Rector can authorise a plain headstone with straight sides. It must be no more than 3ft 6ins (107cms) in height from the ground, not more than 2ft 6ins (76cms) wide and no more than 4ins (10.2cms) thick. It has to sit on a base which must not project more than 2ins (5cms) from the headstone, except when a vase is incorporated, when the front can extend up to Sins (20cms) in front of the headstone.

The stonemason is responsible for ensuring a satisfactory base is provided.

If you want something different, such as an open book, a special application has to be made to the Chancellor. This is called a faculty and can cost around £150 or more. There is no guarantee that permission will be granted.

Memorials in the shape of hearts, birdbaths, statues, etc will not get permission. Kerbs, railings and chippings will not receive permission either.

WHAT TYPE OF STONE IS PERMITTED?

Slate, grey granite, Hopton Wood, Nabresina, Portland stone, Purbeck or York stone. (Any other stone needs a faculty application (£150+) and permission is not guaranteed).

The headstone must have a matt, non-reflective surface. It must not be polished or be finished to look like polished stone.

WHAT ABOUT THE INSCRIPTION?

NAMES: The full names of the person to be commemorated are to be included. Any name by which the person was usually known can be included in brackets after the Christian name, but only if the parish priest gives permission. Dates should also be included.

WHAT ELSE? Tombstones should be informative to future generations, so any wording should express something of the life or character of the person, rather than just the sense of loss. The wording should be consistent with Christian beliefs, and reflect our hope of eternal life. An appropriate quotation from the Bible can be used.

WHAT ABOUT DECORATION?

The Rector can authorise one of the following: vertical lines, a small cross, the ICTHUS sign, a dove, a small flower.

Any other motif (e.g. one relating to the occupation of the deceased) requires permission from the Chancellor via a faculty.

WHAT ELSE CAN BE PUT ON A GRAVE?

Fresh flowers may be placed on the grave in a vase or in a wreath. No plastic or artificial flowers of any kind (except Remembrance Day poppies) are allowed by the Chancellor. Our three Church Councils currently allow the planting of bulbs and annual bedding plants, but not trees, shrubs or roses. We prefer grassed- over graves as they make the churchyards easier to maintain.

Any planting must not exceed the grave space (5ft x 2ft) in front of the headstone, and no surrounds are permitted.

No other ornaments or chippings of any kind may be placed on or near a grave.

HOW DO WE ARRANGE A MONUMENT?

No less than six months after the burial you need to visit a stonemason to discuss your requirements. He will help you to fill in two copies of a CR1 form. These will be sent to the parish priest, who will sign them if you have not requested anything beyond what he/she can authorise.

If your requirements need a faculty application you will probably need to visit the Rector to discuss the possibilities and the process.

HOW MUCH WILL ALL THIS COST?

The Church charges a set fee, which increases each year. In 2001 the Church fee for a standard gravestone was £105. Part of this goes to the parish church to assist with the maintenance of grass-cutting equipment, hedgetrimmers, etc. The remainder is sent to the Diocese to assist with paying the clergy. For an inscription on an existing gravestone, the fee was £25, sent to the Diocese.

The fee for a faculty application is around £150. Not all applications are approved, so it is important to feel reasonably certain of success before applying.