Churchyards - Guidelines for the Erection of Memorials

CHURCHES OF ST AUGUSTINE, ST MARY, ST NICHOLAS AND ST PETER-DE-WITTON, DROITWICH SPA GUIDELINES FOR THE ERECTION OF MEMORIALS IN THE CHURCHYARDS

 

These churchyards are sacred spaces, open to all for reflection, prayer and remembrance. These regulations are issued to ensure that they are maintained in keeping with their natural surroundings and as a safe and orderly environment, and that the memorials erected within them contribute to their overall appearance as well as being an appropriate tribute to those whose lives they commemorate.
  1. The Rector may approve the introduction into a Churchyard of any memorial, provided that:
    1. at least six months have passed since the most recent of the deaths being commemorated, to allow time for the ground to settle;
    2. the form of the memorial is:
      1. a vertical headstone,
      2. a vertical headstone on a horizontal stone base,
      3. a horizontal stone slab, or
      4. a simple timber cross;
    3. the memorial is adequately secured in the ground so as to ensure that it is stable;
    4. in the case of a stone memorial,
      1. it is of natural stone (either sandstone, limestone, granite not darker than Rustenberg grey, or slate), and
      2. it does not have a highly polished reflective finish
    5. any receptacle for a flower vase is within and forms part of the memorial, such that its upper surface is flush with the upper surface of the memorial;
    6. in the case of a memorial consisting of a vertical headstone, with or without a horizontal stone base,
      1. it has vertical sides and a horizontal or curved top,
      2. the maximum height of the vertical stone above ground level is between 500 mm (1 ft 8 in) and 1200 mm (4 ft),
      3. its width is between 500 mm (1 ft 8 in) and 900 mm (3 ft),
      4. its thickness is, in the case of a slate memorial, between 40 mm (1½ in) and 150 mm (6 in) or, in any other case, between 75 mm (3 in) and 150 mm (6 in), and
      5. any foundation slab is located so that its upper surface is either flush with the surrounding ground level or at least 300 mm (12 in) beneath it;
    7. in the case of a memorial consisting of a vertical headstone on a horizontal slab,
      1. the base is an integral part of the design,
      2. where it incorporates a receptacle for a flower vase, the base does not project more than 200 mm (8 in) beyond the face of the vertical stone; and
      3. in any other case, it does not project more than 100 mm (4 in);
    8. in the case of a memorial consisting of a horizontal slab,
      1. where it commemorates the interment of a coffin, it is no more than 600 mm (2 ft) wide and 1800 mm (6 ft) long,
      2. where it commemorates cremated remains, it is no more than 450 mm (18 in) square, and
      3. in either case, the upper surface or the memorial is flush with the surrounding ground;
    9. in the case of a memorial consisting of a simple timber cross, its dimensions do not exceed those of a headstone under the previous paragraph;
    10. the inscription on the memorial contains at least
      1. the name of the deceased,
      2. the date of his or her death, and
      3. the date of birth or the age at death,
      4. and any factual material in the inscription is accurate;
    11. any lettering or other decoration is engraved and incorporated in the memorial, and any decoration other than lettering is not coloured; and
    12. the memorial contains no advertisement or trademark other than the name or mark of the mason which, if included, shall be at the base of the side or rear face of the stone and no more than 13 mm (½ in) high.
  2. Graves must be grassed over, and not covered with gravel or chippings.
  3. The use of the following items over or in association with a grave is not permitted:
    1. trees bushes or shrubs;
    2. plastic flowers, coloured decorations, photographs, ornaments and statues of any kind; and
    3. kerbs, railings or other structures to denote the border of a grave.
  4. Any other memorial may only be introduced into a churchyard with the authority of a faculty.
  5. The Rector will not approve a proposed memorial, notwithstanding compliance with paragraph 1 above, if he or she considers that it is:
    1. likely to be controversial for any reason;
    2. in any way inappropriate,
      and in considering what is appropriate the Rector will have special regard to the documents entitled Churchyard Memorials: a Guide for the Bereaved and The Care of Churchyards: a Guide for Parishes, issued on 1st January 2004, and any documents superseding them.
  6. If any memorial is introduced into the churchyard without the written authority of the Rector, he / she will require the ground to be restored to its previous state by the person who introduced it, at the cost of that person.
  7. In the absence of a Rector, the functions of the Rector under these Guidelines will be performed by the Rural Dean.

These Guidelines are for the Churchyards at St Augustine, St Mary, St Nicholas and St Peter-de-Witton, Droitwich Spa, and were approved in draft by the PCC and by the Diocesan Advisory Committee in November 2004, and by the Chancellor on 25th September 2007.

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