Memorials in Churchyards

Churchyard Regulations

The Chancellor of the Diocese has issued Regulations concerning churchyards and Gardens of Remembrance.

These regulations include details of:

Memorials which may be authorised by incumbents without a faculty under delegated powers from the Chancellor
Memorials for which a faculty is required
Designs and features not permitted
Flowers
Gardens of Remembrance (creation of, memorial plaques, and re-use)

The full set of Regulations can be downloaded from the bottom of this page. Alternatively, shorter summary notes for Clergy, and some guidance for bereaved families, have been produced, and are also accessible from this page.

Introducing a Memorial

If you wish to apply to install a memorial that is entirely consistent with the Regulations, you should complete the form "Application form to introduce a conforming memorial" and then send it to the local priest of the churchyard concerned.

If your proposed memorial is not consistent with the Regulations, you will need to apply for a faculty. To apply for a faculty please use the "Memorial Petition form" (regrettably the Online Faculty System cannot be used for memorial applications) and send it, accompanied by the statutory faculty fee of £327.40 by way of cheque payable to Rotherham and Co to:

Diocesan Registry
Rotherham and Co
8 & 9 The Quadrant
Coventry
CV1 2EH

Tel: 024 7622 7331
m.mcbrierty@rotherham-solicitors.co.uk

Reservation of a grave space (for burial)

If you wish to reserve a gravespace in a churchyard, you should complete the "Reservation of gravespace" application form and send it to the Diocesan Registrar (see address above).

Gardens of Remembrance

Any PCC wishing to create or extend a Garden of Remembrance should read the relevant section in the Churchyard Regulations and then make an application for Informal Advice or a Faculty using the Online Faculty System.

Please note that applications should include details of where the Garden of Remembrance will be located (or extended to), how it will be demarked, details of the Book of Remembrance that will be in the church (and where it will go and its display case), and whether there will be a marker stone (and, if so, details of its type, size, location and inscription).