Ross Team Ministry Services
D I O C E S E of H E R E F O R D
Churchyard Memorial Regulations (revised 1 September 1994)
Preamble:
Our churchyards are part of our Christian heritage and faith, and we need to do our best to look after them and embellish them to the Glory of God. Modern techniques present new possibilities but also new threats to this heritage. These Regulations are intended to encourage good practices and to curb bad ones. (They form Part 4 of the full statement of REGULATIONS RELATING TO CHURCHYARDS).
• The Parish Priest has authority at his discretion to allow memorials to be introduced into the churchyard provided that they comply with these Regulations. He may consult with the Diocesan Advisory Committee or the Chancellor. Any departure from the Regulations requires permission under the Discretionary Procedure set out in Regulation 13.
• All work shall also comply with the Code of Working Practice of the National Association of Memorial Masons insofar as it is compatible with these Regulations.
• The design of gravestones and the wording and lettering of the inscription on them must in every case be submitted in the prescribed form for prior approval to the Parish Priest, either by those wishing to introduce the memorial or by the stone mason. The prescribed form may be obtained from the Parish Priest.
• Headstones, crosses or ledgers only may be introduced and must be of traditional shape and simple in design. For permitted dimensions see Appendix below.
• A flower vase may be incorporated in the base of headstones or crosses, but separate vases must not placed elsewhere in the grave space, except where it is contemplated that no headstone, cross or other memorial will be erected, in which case a fixed vase in permitted material not more than 12 inches x 8 inches or 300 mm x 200 mm with a memorial inscription may be placed in the approximate position where the headstone would have been had there been one.
• Raised curbs, railings, plain or coloured chippings or stones in the shape of hearts, figures, open books or bird baths etc. are not permitted. Photographs and other mementoes similarly are not permitted.
• A small mound of earth may be left immediately after the interment. Twelve months after this, the grave should be levelled with the surrounding turf and kept level. The planting of flowers and other plants on level graves is to be encouraged subject only to any local restrictions imposed by the Parochial Church Council which shall have power to do so.
• Artificial flowers are inappropriate in churchyards and are not permitted. Exceptionally, Remembrance Day poppies and Christmas wreaths may be placed on graves.
• Natural materials only should be used preferably those which are traditionally used in local buildings e.g. stone, slate, oak or teak. The materials selected should be in sympathy with the colour and texture of the church fabric and any adjacent buildings and walls.
• In any individual churchyard the Parish Priest has authority at his discretion to allow those among the types of stone listed below (underlined) which he considers comply with Regulation 9. The examples given are of stones known to be in regular use and do not exclude others within each type:
Sandstones e.g. Forest of Dean, Serena (Italy), York
Limestones e.g. Hopton Wood, Hornton, Nabresina (Italy), Portland
Slates e.g. Welsh, Cumbrian
Granites subject to the restrictions set out below -
Granites may be grey or red and shall be not lighter than honed Cornish and no darker than honed Rustenberg Grey. The finish shall be non-reflective . (For guidance, samples of the two greys and an acceptable red, all with various acceptable finishes, may be inspected at the Diocesan Office).
For any other type, colour or finish of stone permission must be sought through the Discretionary Procedure Regulation 13. For permitted materials other than stone see Regulation 9.
11. Dedications should be simple, reverent and appropriate and the engraving should harmonise with the selected material. Inscriptions should be incised or in relief and may be painted. Flush or raised lead is also permitted. Plastic or other applied lettering is not permitted. Hand-cut lettering is preferred (there are good examples in the Churchyards Handbook). The name only of a mason or firm may be inscribed low down at the side or on the reverse of a headstone or cross in unpainted and unleaded letters not more than half an inch or 15 mm in height.
12. (a) Except as otherwise provided for in this Regulation cremated remains may only be buried in a part of the churchyard set aside for the burial of cremated remains.
(b) Except as otherwise provided for in this Regulation no part of a churchyard shall be set aside for the burial of cremated remains unless authorised by Faculty. (c) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Regulation a part of the churchyard may with the authority of the Archdeacon at his entire discretion be set aside without the authority of a Faculty if:
(i) the parish in which the churchyard is situate has less than 600 persons on its Parliamentary Electoral Roll; and
(ii) the Parish Priest and the Parochial Church Council both agree that an application be made to the Archdeacon under this Regulation; and
(iii) the Parish Priest and the Parochial Church Council are able to satisfy the Archdeacon that the number of burials of cremated remains does not average more than three each year during the previous three years.
(d) Nothing in this Regulation prohibits in appropriate circumstances the burial of cremated remains in an existing grave with the consent of the Parish Priest.
(e) Memorial stones, incorporating vases if desired, may be permitted in respect of any cremated remains the burial of which is either authorised or is not prohibited under this Regulation, provided that the stone
(i) must be of a material permitted for gravestones under these Regulations; and
(ii) must be laid flat with the ground; and
(iii) must not exceed 1 foot 6 inches or 450 mm square.
(f) In all cases cremated remains should be interred in a perishable container.
(g) Memorial stones should not be placed in churchyard walls.
13. Proposals which fall outside the foregoing Regulations may be put forward for consideration under the Discretionary Procedure which is intended to provide for:
(a) individually designed memorials with interesting features and texts. People are encouraged to see a memorial as an opportunity to make a real contribution in keeping with that which the deceased has made to the local community;
(b) a stone which is not normally permitted but may be suited to a particular church or churchyard;
(c) a stone which is not normally permitted but which is to be placed in a burial ground which may be at some distance from the church itself.
The Discretionary Procedure is as follows -
(a) the Parish Priest asks the proposer to complete the standard Diocese of Hereford Application for permission to erect a memorial in a churchyard, stressing the importance of the drawing and the inscriptions of the memorial;
(b) the Parish Priest sends this Application to the Diocesan Advisory Committee asking it to advise the Archdeacon on the proposals;
(c) the Parish Priest should also send a copy of the Application to the Archdeacon;
(d) when he has received the Diocesan Advisory Committee's advice, the Archdeacon may, in an appropriate case, decide himself to authorise the Parish Priest to permit the memorial if the Parish Priest wishes to do so: alternatively he may refer the matter for consideration by the Chancellor who will either indicate that the Parish Priest may permit the memorial of the Parish Priest so wishes, or direct that the applicant should petition for a Faculty.
(e) In this Procedure no fee is charged except where the Chancellor directs the applicant to petition for a Faculty.
14. The removal of a memorial stone for the re-opening of a grave for further interment or its removal for repair, maintenance or inscription is permitted with the consent of the Parish Priest. In all other cases a Faculty is required.
APPENDIX to Regulation 4 above -
4.1. Headstones must not exceed 4 ft or 1200 mm in height (measured from ground level), 3 ft or 900 mm in width and 6 inches or 150 mm in thickness. However if slate is used the headstones may be thinner but must not be less than 2 inches or 50 mm thick.
Headstones may be of three types:
(a) So shaped that they can be inserted directly into the ground at sufficient depth to ensure stability;
(b) on an integral base not more than 3 ft or 900 mm wide or projecting more than 4 inches or 100 mm in any direction and not more than 9 inches or 225 mm high;
(c) on a vase base not more than 3 ft or 900 mm wide or projecting more than 4 inches or 100 mm on either side or projecting more than 7 inches or 175 mm in front of the headstone, or more than 4 inches or 100 mm high. The base must not be more than 1 ft 3 inches or 375 mm overall from front to back.
4.2 The height of a cross (measured from ground level) must not exceed 5 ft or 1500 mm nor be less than 3 ft or 900 mm, the respective thickness of the shafts and arms (measured from front to back) being 6 inches or 150 mm and 4 inches or 100 mm.
No cross shall stand on more than two steps. The step, or lower of the two steps, shall measure no more than 3 ft or 900 mm in width and 1 foot 3 inches or 375 mm from front to back, and no less than 2 ft or 600 mm in width and 1 ft or 300 mm from front to back.
The steps may be replaced by a die or boulder but the above measurements shown for the steps still apply.
4.3 Ledgers must not exceed 7 ft or 2100 mm in length and 3 ft or 900 mm in width.
4.4 So far as adjacent ground levels reasonably permit, the foundation of a headstone or cross and the whole of a ledger shall be at or below the surface of the ground so that a mower may pass freely over it.
(Note - the metric alternatives given in these Regulations are those recommended for use by the National Association of Memorial Masons. They are generally slightly less than the corresponding imperial dimensions).