St. John's Churchyard

Diocesan Churchyard Regulations

This section gives guidance on the Diocesan Churchyard Regulations which apply to St John’s Churchyard, Cove. A full copy of the current Diocesan Regulations is available for inspection at the Parish Office.

Both the Churchyard and the Garden of Remembrance are places where people can be quiet, remember and pray without distraction. The purpose of the regulations is to maintain and enhance these values with a minimum of bureaucracy while allowing the garden and churchyard to be appropriately maintained. The cost of any memorials and their maintenance is the responsibility of the family of the deceased but please be aware that the family does not own the burial plot and that it is the duty of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) to maintain the Churchyard and the Garden of Remembrance in good order and in accordance with current regulations.

A searchable PDF plan of the graveyard has been created if you would like a copy please click HERE.

Burials

Our churchyard has been closed for burials by Order in Council. We can advise you if there are any exceptions to this Order.

Memorials

If you wish to erect a memorial, please discuss the matter with us before any work begins, as permission is always required and you will need to complete form CR1 (available from local Funeral Directors, stonemasons or directly from us). Please note that we have to follow all current regulations in authorising the erection of any headstone (for the types and classes which may be authorised, please refer to the current Diocesan Regulations. We can only grant permission for the erection of a headstone which fall within these types and classes. Permission of an authorised headstone may be refused if we believe that it would be detrimental to the churchyard. If a headstone falls outside those authorised, we have no discretion to allow it to be erected. In this situation it is possible to apply for permission from the Diocese, (a Faculty) giving the grounds for your request. We can advise you on how to approach the Diocesan Advisory Committee if you decide to make such an application.

Additions or alterations to any grave will need prior permission before work is carried out. If this is not sought and granted then we are sorry to inform you that according to the regulations you will be liable for any cost involved in the removal of such items.

Flowers

Bulbs and small annual plants may be planted in the soil of a grave within the area previously excavated (please note this does not include shrubs or trees of any kind). Plants or flowers may also be placed in a removable sunken container if such a container was part of the original application. In order to maintain the beauty of the churchyard for all those who use it, the PCC may remove or mow over any plants or flowers which become untidy.

Wreaths or cut flowers may be placed directly on a grave or in a build-in vase authorised within the regulations. If a built-in vase remains unused for twelve months or more, the PCC may insert a matching stone stopper in the vase hole. Good quality artificial flowers may be placed on a grave but we ask you to understand that both natural and artificial flowers deteriorate over time and, in order to maintain the tranquil atmosphere of the graveyard, the Parochial Church Council (PCC) will remove any flowers, of whatever kind, when they become unsightly and all artificial flowers after two months.

The information within this page is extracted from Diocesan Churchyard Regulations and has been approved by the Diocesan Registry. The current regulations came into force in 2005.

We hope that this section has answered the questions you may have, but if you would like to discuss anything further or would like to see the full set of Diocesan Churchyard Regulations, please do contact us.

Interment of Cremated Remains

This section gives guidance on the regulations which apply to the interment of cremated remains (Ashes) within St John’s Churchyard, Cove. A full copy of the current Diocesan Regulations is available for inspection at the Parish Office.

Both the Churchyard and the Garden of Remembrance are places where people can be quiet, remember and pray without distraction. The purpose of the regulations is to maintain and enhance these values with a minimum of bureaucracy while allowing the garden and churchyard to be appropriately maintained. The cost of any memorials and their maintenance is the responsibility of the family of the deceased but please be aware that the family does not own the burial plot and that it is the duty of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) to maintain the Churchyard and the Garden of Remembrance in good order and in accordance with current regulations.

Rights of Interment

Anyone living in the parish has a right to the burial of his or her cremated remains in the churchyard. The remains of non-parishioners may also be buried there with the consent of the Incumbent who will decide the place of interment. The names of all who are buried, together with a record of where they are buried is recorded in the church Burial Register and kept in the church safe. For those buried in the Garden of Remembrance a memorial ‘Book of Remembrance’ is kept in the church and entries may be made in it, with the Incumbent’s consent, by an approved calligrapher.

The Garden of Remembrance

If you have a family grave, ashes may be interred there loose or in a biodegradable casket. Otherwise, they will be buried within the Garden of Remembrance where the ashes will be buried without a container.

Memorials

If the burial is within the Garden of Remembrance no memorial can be placed on the burial plot as the whole area is set aside as a space to remember loved ones. Permission can be sought from the Incumbent for a small plaque in memory of the deceased to be placed in the Garden of Remembrance. Please contact the Parish Administrator if you wish to do this, as an application form is required to be completed. The Incumbent’s approval is required for the wording, design, dimensions, materials and placement of any such memorial.

Floral Tributes

We recognise the importance of remembering loved ones through floral tributes. Therefore immediately following an interment such tributes may be left at the burial plot. For burials in the Garden of Remembrance wreaths and fresh, or good quality artificial flowers, may be placed at the foot of the memorial wall, but not on the burial plot (we are sorry, but such placed tributes will be moved). We ask you to understand that both natural and artificial flowers deteriorate over time and in order to maintain the tranquil atmosphere of the garden and Churchyard, the PCC will remove any flowers, of whatever kind, when they become unsightly and all artificial flowers after two months.

Fees

The fees for the interment of cremated remains are contained in the current Parochial Fees Order. Those for the inscription in the Book of Remembrance and any memorial plaque shall be fixed by the PCC and are available from the Parish Administrator.

We hope that this page has answered the questions you may have but if you would like to discuss anything further or would like to see the full set of Diocesan Churchyard Regulations, please contact the Parish Administrator.

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