ON THIS PAGE:
- ABOUT OUR CHURCHYARD
- ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF OUR CHURCHYARD
- DIOCESAN GUIDELINES FOR CHURCHYARD MANAGEMENT AND CHURCHYARD RULES
ABOUT OUR CHURCHYARD
Burial records are available for inspection in the vestry from the 1750s onwards, though the earliest records are held elsewhere for security. The oldest graves are in the front of the church and then by the path leading round to the right of the main church door and up to the first intersection.
The newest graves are sited near the kissing gate in the far right hand corner at the back of church. There are about 2500 graves, not all with headstones, nor are all headstones readable!
The memorial plaques for cremations, against the seaward side behind the church, has 860 memorial plaques dating from the 1970s onwards, with more modern ones, yet to be mapped, against the far wall and to the right of the kissing gate. There is no more room for new graves, and only limited spaces for memorial plaques due to rock just underneath the grass layer. Sometimes recent ashes are buried in family graves.
The rules for this are laid out on the Diocese of Bath And Wells website but here is an excerpt:
"As long as the parish church has a churchyard with available space, anyone who has lived or died in the parish can be buried. It doesn’t matter if they were a churchgoer or not. Occasionally special permission can be granted to bury ashes in a churchyard even if it is officially closed, subject to legal requirements of course. You would need to check with your parish vicar to see what is possible. Some churchyards now have a Garden of Remembrance set aside for the burial of ashes. Some still use gravestones, but some use a Book of Remembrance to record details instead."
St Andrew’s Churchyard has been closed to new burials for many years now, but we have enquiries from many people who are looking for family members so that they can enter details into their family tree.
Should you want to find out about a member of your family then please contact the church office, either by email - clevedonub@btconnect.com - or by telephoning 01275 872982.
WAR GRAVES
Within St Andrew's Churchyard are war graves and memorials commemorating
service personnel who lost their lives in both world wars.
Please go to the "War Graves" tab under the "Buildings & Grounds" section of the website.
In recent months Helen has been mapping the ashes bank and we plan to bring you a searchable map of the interments in the churchyard in due course. The idea of this is that you should be able to use this to pinpoint the resting place of a loved one or an ancestor to within a few metres prior to your visit. As you can probably imagine, converting written records, some of which date back hundreds of years, cross checking them to actual locations and finally converting this information into electronic format is a mammoth task so please bear with us whilst we attempt to bring all of this new feature to you. Please click here to see what we have so far.
Burial records are available for inspection in the vestry from the 1750s onwards, though the earliest records are held elsewhere for security. The oldest graves are in the front of the church and then by the path leading round to the right of the main church door and up to the first intersection.
The newest graves are sited near the kissing gate in the far right hand corner at the back of church. There are about 2500 graves, not all with headstones, nor are all headstones readable!
The memorial plaques for cremations, against the seaward side behind the church, has 860 memorial plaques dating from the 1970s onwards, with more modern ones, yet to be mapped, against the far wall and to the right of the kissing gate. There is no more room for new graves, and only limited spaces for memorial plaques due to rock just underneath the grass layer. Sometimes recent ashes are buried in family graves.
The rules for this are laid out on the Diocese of Bath And Wells website but here is an excerpt:
"As long as the parish church has a churchyard with available space, anyone who has lived or died in the parish can be buried. It doesn’t matter if they were a churchgoer or not. Occasionally special permission can be granted to bury ashes in a churchyard even if it is officially closed, subject to legal requirements of course. You would need to check with your parish vicar to see what is possible. Some churchyards now have a Garden of Remembrance set aside for the burial of ashes. Some still use gravestones, but some use a Book of Remembrance to record details instead."
St Andrew’s Churchyard has been closed to new burials for many years now, but we have enquiries from many people who are looking for family members so that they can enter details into their family tree.
Should you want to find out about a member of your family then please contact the church office, either by email - clevedonub@btconnect.com - or by telephoning 01275 872982.
WAR GRAVES
Within St Andrew's Churchyard are war graves and memorials commemorating
service personnel who lost their lives in both world wars.
Please go to the "War Graves" tab under the "Buildings & Grounds" section of the website.
In recent months Helen has been mapping the ashes bank and we plan to bring you a searchable map of the interments in the churchyard in due course. The idea of this is that you should be able to use this to pinpoint the resting place of a loved one or an ancestor to within a few metres prior to your visit. As you can probably imagine, converting written records, some of which date back hundreds of years, cross checking them to actual locations and finally converting this information into electronic format is a mammoth task so please bear with us whilst we attempt to bring all of this new feature to you. Please click here to see what we have so far.
ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF OUR CHURCHYARD
We trust that our churchyard will always be a place of peace and comfort.
To keep it so for all who visit, we have to be strict about certain safety rules, about keeping things looking tidy and ensuring that everyone's allocated space is respected.
We trust that our churchyard will always be a place of peace and comfort.
To keep it so for all who visit, we have to be strict about certain safety rules, about keeping things looking tidy and ensuring that everyone's allocated space is respected.
Safety and appearance
Uneven ground:
Please take great care when walking in the churchyard, particularly if you go off the laid footpaths, as much of the ground is uneven.
Containers:
The churchyard grass has to be kept neat with a strimmer. Unfortunately if the strimmer catches a flower container (other than ones actually set into plots) it can be shattered, leaving dangerous shards. Therefore we have to say, for safety, that such containers must not be left on graves or ashes plots.
Other items:
The same restrictions have to be applied to other things placed on graves and plots. Things such as lighting, artificial flowers, mementos and statuary have proved to be a real hazard to users of the churchyard and to the environment.
Wreaths:
Commemorative and festival wreaths can be placed, but if they are left longer than six weeks they will be cleared away because they become unsightly as they deteriorate and most often contain materials that are a hazard to maintenance and the environment.
Allocated space
Borders and Planting:
Over the years many people have added borders and chippings or potted plants which, particularly in ashes plots, encroach upon neighbouring plots.
This isn't fair to relatives visiting a plot which has been imposed on. It also makes maintaining the churchyard difficult.
The number of plots which can be fitted in to the churchyard is limited, so we have to be strict about the size of each plot.
Therefore we must specify that nothing is added which encroaches beyond the allocated space.
Regulations
We recognise that this is a very sensitive matter, but people have been upset by problems caused by the things described above. So from the date of this notice we must apply the regulations for the safety and fairness for all who use the churchyard.
They will not be applied retrospectively, except to tidy up unkempt plots.
Please DO NOT feel that you can do something because it's been done by someone else before.
Instead, please DO HELP to make the churchyard safer and fairer for everyone by adhering to the regulations.
Diocesan guidance/regulations:
These are displayed separately below.
Please pay particular attention to paragraphs 8 and 9 about chippings, borders and statuary. Memorial plots all have an official "permission" and this must be respected.
Local Rules:
The rules about containers and mementos are local regulations which are necessary for the safe maintenence of this churchyard. The following items create a hazard or problem for the safety and good appearance of the churchyard, so must not be placed:
- ceramic, glass or plastic pots or items
- lighting
- artificial flowers (which often have metal stems)
- artefacts and mementos
- additional plantings
Thank you for your attention and compliance
St Andrew's PCC: June 2018
DIOCESAN GUIDELINES FOR CHURCHYARD MANAGEMENT AND CHURCHYARD RULES
Churchyards - DAC GUIDANCE
Churchyard management
1. The Parochial Church Council is responsible, under the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956, for the appearance care and maintenance of the Churchyard.
2. The Incumbent/Priest in Charge and PCC must maintain an up to date plan of the churchyard.
3. The introduction, alteration or reconstruction of any tombstone or other monument must be dealt with according to the following churchyard rules.
4. Every Parochial Church Council should make regulations for the proper exercise of its powers and duties. Specimen regulations can be obtained from the Diocesan Registry and may be adopted or modified by the PCC to suit local circumstances.
5. A PCC may adopt more stringent local Churchyard Rules under faculty.
6. The existence in churchyards of tombstones or monuments which do not comply with the terms of this Notice cannot be regarded as a precedent.
Churchyard rules
Part I Introduction of tombstones or other monuments
No tombstone or other monument may be introduced without permission
1. The Incumbent/Priest in Charge has powers delegated to him or her by the Chancellor. These powers allow him or her to give permission lasting for a period of up to 100 years for any tombstone or monument which complies with the provisions of the Appendix so long as the relatives maintain the tombstone or monument in good repair. Churchwardens and sequestrators have no power to permit the introduction of any tombstone or other monument into a churchyard. If the benefice is vacant or contact with the Incumbent/Priest in Charge cannot be made the Rural Dean or the Diocesan Registrar should be consulted.
2. The Archdeacon has power (outside the Incumbent’s/Priest in Charge’s powers) to permit an individually designed monument which is of artistic merit according to instructions given to him by the Chancellor. (Applications should be made in writing to the Archdeacon.) This power is given to encourage variety and the improvement of aesthetic standards.
3. The Chancellor has power to allow by faculty the introduction of any kind of tombstone or other monument into a churchyard. Statutory fees are payable at the time of applying for a faculty. Full details and application forms can be obtained can be obtained from the Diocesan Registry. Application for permission to erect a tombstone or monument must be made on the official form (obtainable from the Old Deanery, Wells BA5 2UG or the Diocesan Registry, 14 Market Place, Wells BA5 2RE) and must come within the provisions set out in the Appendix. (If there is any reason for concern the Incumbent/Priest in Charge should refer to the Archdeacon)
Part II Burial of cremated remains
In many churchyards (open and closed) areas have been set aside exclusively for the burial of cremated remains. In seeking permission for such an area the PCC should first consult the Archdeacon. A DAC paper gives good advice, and a faculty will usually be necessary. The faculty itself will often specify the type of memorialisation allowed in the area. Otherwise memorial plaques and other monuments marking cremated remains shall comply with the provisions of the Appendix.
The occasional interment of cremated remains is acceptable in the general churchyard area.
Small memorial plaques are permitted on top of graves where cremated remains are interred subsequent to burials.
Cremated remains should preferably be put into the ground without a box although a container which is biodegradable is acceptable.
APPENDIX
1. Headstones (including any plinth) shall be no more than 1200mm (4 feet) high above ground, 900mm (3 feet) wide and 180mm (7 inches) thick and no less than 750mm (2 feet 6 inches) high above ground, 500mm (1 foot 8 inches) wide and 75mm (3 inches) thick, and shall not be erected within 1200mm (4 feet) of the outer wall of the church. The stone should preferably be sunk without any plinth having one-third of its total length below ground level. Alternatively, the headstone may be securely fixed below the level of the turf to a ground anchorage complying with British Standard 8415 or giving an equivalent degree of stability.
2. Crosses no more than 1200mm (4 feet) high above ground are acceptable.
3. Horizontal ledgers (over burials) shall be just below the level of the turf and measure not more than 2100mm (7 feet) x 900mm (3 feet) nor less than 1200mm (4 feet) x 600mm (2 feet).
4. Memorial plaques over cremated remains shall be just below the level of the turf and measure not more than 450mm (18 inches) x 400mm (16 inches).
5. Vases shall be separate – measuring not more than 300mm x 200mm x 200mm (12 inches x 8 inches x 8 inches)
6. Monuments may be of natural wood or natural stone. Stones traditionally used in local buildings or closely similar to them in colour and texture are appropriate.
7. Stone shall not be polished or reflective.
8. Black and pearl granite, marble of any colour, synthetic stone and plastic shall not be permitted.
9. A monument shall not include any raised kerb, railings, stone or other chippings, picture or photograph, built-in vase container, statuary or bird bath. All monuments shall be simple in shape. No colour shall be introduced except black, white or gold.
10. No advertisement or trade-mark shall be inscribed on the monument, but the name of the mason may be incised at the side or on the reverse of a headstone in unpainted and unleaded letters no more than 13mm in height.
11. Responsibility for the safe installation of any memorial rests with the monumental mason. The person who purchased the memorial and, after that person’s death, the heirs of the deceased have an ongoing liability for its maintenance in a safe condition
T.J.Briden, Chancellor of the Diocese November 2011
Churchyards - DAC GUIDANCE
Churchyard management
1. The Parochial Church Council is responsible, under the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956, for the appearance care and maintenance of the Churchyard.
2. The Incumbent/Priest in Charge and PCC must maintain an up to date plan of the churchyard.
3. The introduction, alteration or reconstruction of any tombstone or other monument must be dealt with according to the following churchyard rules.
4. Every Parochial Church Council should make regulations for the proper exercise of its powers and duties. Specimen regulations can be obtained from the Diocesan Registry and may be adopted or modified by the PCC to suit local circumstances.
5. A PCC may adopt more stringent local Churchyard Rules under faculty.
6. The existence in churchyards of tombstones or monuments which do not comply with the terms of this Notice cannot be regarded as a precedent.
Churchyard rules
Part I Introduction of tombstones or other monuments
No tombstone or other monument may be introduced without permission
1. The Incumbent/Priest in Charge has powers delegated to him or her by the Chancellor. These powers allow him or her to give permission lasting for a period of up to 100 years for any tombstone or monument which complies with the provisions of the Appendix so long as the relatives maintain the tombstone or monument in good repair. Churchwardens and sequestrators have no power to permit the introduction of any tombstone or other monument into a churchyard. If the benefice is vacant or contact with the Incumbent/Priest in Charge cannot be made the Rural Dean or the Diocesan Registrar should be consulted.
2. The Archdeacon has power (outside the Incumbent’s/Priest in Charge’s powers) to permit an individually designed monument which is of artistic merit according to instructions given to him by the Chancellor. (Applications should be made in writing to the Archdeacon.) This power is given to encourage variety and the improvement of aesthetic standards.
3. The Chancellor has power to allow by faculty the introduction of any kind of tombstone or other monument into a churchyard. Statutory fees are payable at the time of applying for a faculty. Full details and application forms can be obtained can be obtained from the Diocesan Registry. Application for permission to erect a tombstone or monument must be made on the official form (obtainable from the Old Deanery, Wells BA5 2UG or the Diocesan Registry, 14 Market Place, Wells BA5 2RE) and must come within the provisions set out in the Appendix. (If there is any reason for concern the Incumbent/Priest in Charge should refer to the Archdeacon)
Part II Burial of cremated remains
In many churchyards (open and closed) areas have been set aside exclusively for the burial of cremated remains. In seeking permission for such an area the PCC should first consult the Archdeacon. A DAC paper gives good advice, and a faculty will usually be necessary. The faculty itself will often specify the type of memorialisation allowed in the area. Otherwise memorial plaques and other monuments marking cremated remains shall comply with the provisions of the Appendix.
The occasional interment of cremated remains is acceptable in the general churchyard area.
Small memorial plaques are permitted on top of graves where cremated remains are interred subsequent to burials.
Cremated remains should preferably be put into the ground without a box although a container which is biodegradable is acceptable.
APPENDIX
1. Headstones (including any plinth) shall be no more than 1200mm (4 feet) high above ground, 900mm (3 feet) wide and 180mm (7 inches) thick and no less than 750mm (2 feet 6 inches) high above ground, 500mm (1 foot 8 inches) wide and 75mm (3 inches) thick, and shall not be erected within 1200mm (4 feet) of the outer wall of the church. The stone should preferably be sunk without any plinth having one-third of its total length below ground level. Alternatively, the headstone may be securely fixed below the level of the turf to a ground anchorage complying with British Standard 8415 or giving an equivalent degree of stability.
2. Crosses no more than 1200mm (4 feet) high above ground are acceptable.
3. Horizontal ledgers (over burials) shall be just below the level of the turf and measure not more than 2100mm (7 feet) x 900mm (3 feet) nor less than 1200mm (4 feet) x 600mm (2 feet).
4. Memorial plaques over cremated remains shall be just below the level of the turf and measure not more than 450mm (18 inches) x 400mm (16 inches).
5. Vases shall be separate – measuring not more than 300mm x 200mm x 200mm (12 inches x 8 inches x 8 inches)
6. Monuments may be of natural wood or natural stone. Stones traditionally used in local buildings or closely similar to them in colour and texture are appropriate.
7. Stone shall not be polished or reflective.
8. Black and pearl granite, marble of any colour, synthetic stone and plastic shall not be permitted.
9. A monument shall not include any raised kerb, railings, stone or other chippings, picture or photograph, built-in vase container, statuary or bird bath. All monuments shall be simple in shape. No colour shall be introduced except black, white or gold.
10. No advertisement or trade-mark shall be inscribed on the monument, but the name of the mason may be incised at the side or on the reverse of a headstone in unpainted and unleaded letters no more than 13mm in height.
11. Responsibility for the safe installation of any memorial rests with the monumental mason. The person who purchased the memorial and, after that person’s death, the heirs of the deceased have an ongoing liability for its maintenance in a safe condition
T.J.Briden, Chancellor of the Diocese November 2011