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Churchyard & Memorials

About the churchyard
This note is about the churchyard and the memorial stones and other items in it. The churchyard is a place of quiet and peace. When the bodies and cremated remains of people who have died are buried here, they are regarded as being in the safe keeping of the church for ever.

Keeping the character of the churchyard
Some rules are in place, in order to preserve the historic character of the churchyard, and to make sure that it can be managed well. These rules are not made up by the church in Yarm. They are decided by the chief legal officer of the Diocese of York, called the Chancellor, and they apply to all the churchyards in the diocese. In making the rules, and making sure that they are kept, the Chancellor is doing what the law requires him to do.

The rules cover the things that are allowed to be put in the churchyard, including memorials and other articles.

What is the situation in Yarm churchyard?
At present in Yarm churchyard, there are some articles on and around the burial places that are outside what is allowed by the Chancellor’s rules. The local church officers at Yarm have been discussing with the diocesan authorities what to do about this. They have agreed that there should be a programme to bring the churchyard, especially the area for cremated remains, back within the terms of what is legally allowed. They are asking everyone concerned to help in doing this.

Sensitivity and fairness
The spot where a loved one’s remains are buried is very precious. Many people put a lot of effort into tending the place that is special to them. Everyone realises that it is a sensitive matter to have regulations about burial places. The last thing that the church and its officers would want to do is to appear disrespectful to those who have died, or uncaring to people who are grieving. There may of course be some difference of personal opinion about the kind of articles that are seemly or appropriate. But by encouraging everyone to tend burial places within the terms of the rules, rather than decisions being made piecemeal, it is hoped that everything can be done in a way that is even-handed and fair. The church officers are asking for everyone’s co-operation in keeping the churchyard within the rules, as a way of maintaining its traditional character. This note gives some particular details that are relevant to Yarm churchyard. If you would like to read the full text of the Chancellor’s rules, they are published on the website of the diocese’s legal officer, www.denisontill.com. Look for the link to faculty matters — when that page comes up, scroll down to find the link to churchyard memorial rules 2005.

Memorials
Full details about the permitted specification of memorials can be found in the Chancellor’s rules. Your monumental mason should be familiar with them. The normal form of memorial marking cremated remains is a stone rectangle flush with the ground, maximum size 18”x18”. Very dark or polished stones are not allowed, nor is gilded or silvered lettering. In general, there is no requirement to remove gilding or silvering on memorials already in place as of now, but no new metallic lettering can be allowed. The memorial stone may include an integral sunken receptacle for flowers, the top of which must be flush with the tablet or ground surface.

Plants and flowers
Spring bulbs may be planted within 6” of a memorial stone. No other plants, shrubs or trees may be planted directly into the ground. As well as cut natural flowers, silk flowers and seasonal wreaths are allowed, provided they are removed before they become bedraggled.

Articles that are not allowed
Only memorials and plants as listed above, are allowed to be put in the churchyard. Other items such as the following are not allowed. These items are among those that are not allowed:

• Kerbs, borders, gravel, chippings, chains, fencing, edging
• Vases or planters (other than an integral arrangement as described above)
• Glass or other breakable items
• Statues, figures and garden ornaments
• Plaques or signs, other than the memorial stone itself
• Personal memorabilia, clothes, toys, food or drink
• Shrubs, trees or plants set directly in the ground, except spring bulbs
• Plastic flowers

We hope to be able to resolve these issues with everyone involved by the beginning of the New Year 2012.

What are we asking you to do?
If you have a family burial place with articles or plants on it or that are not allowed within the churchyard rules, we ask you please to have removed them by New Year 2012. It may help that this is of course not the growing season. Later in 2012, the church authorities will need to put work in hand to remove unauthorized items.

If you have any questions about anything that is permitted in Yarm churchyard, please contact a Churchwarden – email yarmchurchwarden@gmail.com

1 May 2011, updated September 2011