Horley ‘New’ Churchyard, Church Road, Horley
Information for the bereaved and those who maintain graves
and ashes plots.
Horley ‘New Churchyard’: an oasis of peace.
Within even a few years most graves are cared for communally
and not privately.
Introduction
May I say, first, that I am very sorry to be making this
information available to you as I assume that you have been
bereaved, perhaps very recently? At a time of great busyness
and heartache one of your concerns will be the decision to bury
the body or ashes of someone you have loved.
This information is intended to guide you about the rights and
obligations of those who maintain a grave or ashes plot in the
Churchyard. Please take a few moments to read this booklet as it
will help you to maintain the grave or ashes plot – and help us
with the tidying up that we have been working on in recent years!
Ownership and legalities
The Old and New Churchyard in Horley are owned by the
Parochial Church Council (PCC) of Horley Team Ministry,
administered through the Church Office at St Bartholomew’s
Church. This is a perpetual ownership of consecrated ground and
is subject to Church law.
When remains are buried the relations are purchasing the right
of burial. It is important to understand the implications of this.
First, because the churchyard is subject to Canon Law mourners
must apply for permission to erect any memorials on a grave.
Secondly, the PCC retains the responsibility for maintenance of
the Churchyard. Thirdly, the PCC is obliged by law to bury the
remains of anyone who lived or residing in the Parish at the time
of their death - in other words, rights of burial are not subject
to church membership or faith allegiance. Fourthly, because
ownership of the land remains with the PCC, it is not possible to
agree to the common request to buy or allocate grave spaces in
advance of a death. In practice, these obligations are exercised
by the Team Rector and are all subject to the Churchyard
Regulations of the Diocese of Southwark. These allow for
matters outside the jurisdiction of the Rector to be dealt with
by application for a ‘Faculty’ to the Diocese; in reality this is an
expensive and lengthy business.
Application for the erection of memorials
In practice this is usually done by undertakers and stonemasons
who will know the Regulations in Horley Churchyard. The
dimensions of gravestones and ashes memorials are set out in
the Regulations and allow for considerable flexibility of size
while bearing in mind questions of maintenance and the needs of
mourners. Mourners are reminded that they should only erect
memorials for which they have permission.
Maintenance issues
Until recently there has been a significant problem of
unauthorised decoration of graves and ashes plots, which makes
maintenance very difficult. In particular, many spaces have been
surrounded with stone or wooden borders that inhibit the use of
mowers or strimmers. Many mourners also use containers for
flowers, toys or labels that make strimming or mowing either
very difficult or impossible.
To highlight the problem, one gardener explained that he once
broke the window of Mercedes 15 metres away when his
strimmer hit a stone! Rather than risk that danger to people or
property. It is the policy of the Horley PCC that no curb stones
or wooden borders are allowed and you will be asked to sign a
declaration stating that you will not put these in place. Also the
grave should only be grassed over and no flowers beds planted or
gardens made as this also impedes the gardeners work. If all
the graves are uniform this cuts down on the considerable cost
to the church and partly the Town Council for the maintenance
of the churchyard.
Clearly many mourners look after graves beautifully but the real
problems arise when mourners are no longer able to maintain
graves or ashes plots, or when borders are so close that
maintenance is not practical. This is the reason that permission
is granted only for the erection of headstones or flat stones and
never (in recent years) for borders or boundaries.
A way ahead
Three considerations are paramount. The first is that Horley
Churchyard is a communal and Christian burial place. It is
important that mourners care not only for their own plot but
take into account the needs of neighbours. Secondly, safety is
vital and gardeners must not be put at risk nor put others at risk
by having to cope with unauthorised monuments or decorations.
Thirdly, the long-term maintenance of the Churchyard must be
considered from the outset.
For these reasons, permission will not be granted for any stone
or wooden borders; for stone chippings; or for any containers or
decorations except those as an integral part of a gravestone,
within the terms of the Regulations.
In June 2007 a new line of ashes plots was started. Permission
will be granted only for flat stones so that in due time mowers
may have freedom of movement for long-term ease of
maintenance. Memorials on Ashes plots should be 15” by 12” and
flush with the ground.
In conclusion I would like to say that my prime concern is for
your spiritual welfare at this time of bereavement. If I can be
of any help at any time, do let me know.
Rev Calvert Prentis
01293 783 509.
Summary
1.
Horley PCC is delighted to own and maintain Horley
Churchyard on behalf of the whole community. The erection
of any monument is subject to the published Regulations of
Southwark Diocese. A summary of these Regulations is
printed below and the complete Regulations may be viewed
at undertakers, stonemasons and the Parish Office.
2. Permission will not be granted for any stone or wooden
borders; for stone chippings; or for any containers or
decorations except those as an integral part of a
gravestone.
3. In the new line of ashes plots, permission will be granted
only for flat stones.
SUMMARY OF
DIOCESAN CHURCHYARD REGULATIONS
1. The minister may approve the introduction into a
churchyard of any memorial if:
(a) at least six months have elapsed since the most recent of the
deaths being commemorated;
(b) the form of the memorial is:
(i) a vertical headstone,
(ii) a vertical headstone on a horizontal stone base,
(iii) a horizontal stone slab, or
(iv) a simple timber cross;
(c) the memorial is adequately secured in the ground so as to
ensure that it is stable;
(d) in the case of a stone memorial,
(i) it is of natural stone (either sandstone, limestone,
granite not darker than Rustenberg grey, or slate), and
(ii) it does not have a highly polished reflective finish;
(e) in the case of a memorial consisting of a vertical headstone,
with or without a horizontal stone base,
(i) the height of the vertical stone above ground level is
between 500 mm(1ft 8 in) and 1200 mm (4 ft);
(ii) the width if between 500 mm (1ft 8 in) and 900 mm (3
ft);
(iii) 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);
(iv) 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;
(f) in the case of a memorial consisting of a vertical headstone
on a horizontal slab,
(i) the base is an integral part of the design,
(ii) where it incorporates a receptacle for a flower vase,
there is provision for no more than one such vase;
(iii) where it incorporates a receptacle for a flower vase,
the base does not project more than 200 mm (8 inches)
beyond the face of the vertical stone; and
(iv) in any other case, it does not project more than 100 mm
(4 inches);
(g) in the case of a memorial consisting of a horizontal slab,
(i) it is no more than 600 mm (2 ft) wide and 1800 mm (6 ft)
long, and
(ii) its upper surface is flush with the surrounding ground;
(h) the inscription on the memorial contains at least:
(i) the name of the deceased;
(ii) the date of his or her death;
(iii) the date of birth or the age at death and any factual
material in the inscription is accurate; and
(i) the inscription and any artwork is incised into the stone and,
if painted, no more than one colour is used; and
(j) 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 (1/2 in) high.
2. Any other memorial shall only be introduced into a
churchyard with the authority of a faculty.
3. Notwithstanding compliance with paragraph 2, the minister
shall not approve a proposed memorial if he or she considers
that it is:
(i) likely to be controversial for some reason;
(ii) is in any way inappropriate,
and in considering whether to approve a proposed memorial
the minister shall have regard to the current version of the
document Churchyard Memorials etc. Chancellor’s Guidance.
4. “Minister” means the incumbent of the parish in which the
churchyard is situated or, where rights of presentation are
suspended, the curate licensed to the charge of that parish
or the minister acting as priest-in-charge.
Memorials on Ashes plots should be 15” by 12 (as from 2007) and
flush with the ground
The Feast of Pentecost
8 June 2003
CHARLES GEORGE
CHANCELLOR