IF YOU  HAVE  CHOSEN  BURIAL  IN  ONE  OF OUR CHURCHYARDS

PLEASE HELP US TO KEEP A WORTHY CHURCHYARD

BY NOTING THE FOLLOWING :-

• No one has the right to erect a memorial in the Churchyard. In

every case it is a privilege, although one that  is nearly always

granted.  The planning of a memorial is therefore unlike the legal

position in regard to burial. Parishioners among others have a right

of burial in the churchyard, but there is no right to erect a memorial.

[You are asking for a memorial in the grounds of a Graded building. In Ault Hucknall’s case it is Grade 1, and Scarcliffe, Grade 2 starred. The regulations are stringent and imposed by Law. This law is called Faculty Jurisdiction. The current Chancellor’s rules follow on the last link of this section]

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• The incumbent of the parish has the duty, amongst other

responsibilities, of complying with the directions given through the

chancellor  relating  to  the  Churchyard.  Most dioceses have

churchyard regulations. They lay down restrictions on the size, the

shape and design, and the type of material used. They support the

general policies shown in the recent edition of the Churchyard

handbook to ensure that materials are suitable and that they do not

make maintenance of the Churchyard difficult.

• From time to time the Church reserves the right to vary regulations

but never in individual cases.  Because a regulation has been breached in the past does not mean that this will be allowed thereafter. If you see a grave that is in non-compliance, please do not see this as permission to follow suit, but inform the Vicar or churchwardens who may not be aware of the offence.

A common misunderstanding. Upon the burial of a loved one, many assume that they have “bought the grave.” This is not true. The grave is a constituent part of the churchyard that is always in the ownership, care and

responsibility of the church.

Current Regulations for the Parishes of Ault Hucknall & Scarcliffe

• Headstones  may  be  erected  only  with  the  incumbents permission. No Headstone may be erected until 6 Months after the burial. The disturbed earth of the grave needs to settle otherwise there is the risk of a gravestone keeling over.

For size, materials and inscriptions for the stone please see the regulations at the end of this booklet.

• No borders, surround or chippings of any material are allowed.

• Vases  Only vases of metal or stone, or those incorporated into Headstones are allowed. Please keep these near or in line beside the headstone so that the grass cutter is not impeded. The more obstructions placed in the way of the mower, the longer it takes to cut the grass, and the more expensive is the cost to the church for maintenance.

Loose vases should be removed once a Headstone is in place. Jam

Jars, earthenware and glass vases are not allowed as these are dangerous both to visitors and churchyard workers. Should the grass be long enough to obscure the vase, as can be when cutting is delayed after prolonged bad weather, the mower will run over small vases.

• No Unauthorised Digging Over of the ground (e.g. to make a

garden) is allowed. The grass is mowed at the church’s expense. This cost will rise if obstructions such as rockeries, kerbs and gardens hinder the grass cutter. Individually you may think an individual garden grave looks nice, but in context with others, the effect is much less worthy.

• All withered flowers should be removed to the place provided. Please do not put non-combustible items into the incinerator. It would be most helpful if you would take your flower wrappings home for disposal.

Incinerators: Ault Hucknall has an incinerator for combustible materials only. Please take materials home that do not burn. Above all, do not put sods of earth in the incinerators.

The churchyard, apart from grass cutting, is kept in good order by volunteers. Please help them in their work, or be a volunteer yourself.

Water taps and Watering cans. As a service to visitors we provide containers and a tap. Please return them after use. We also have to pay the water rate, so please ensure the taps is turned off after use.

Christmas Wreathes.

Please remove these by February 2^nd. This date is not arbitrary, but is the official end of Christmas. The practical reason for asking this is that by then, grass is beginning to grow, and the wreathes are hard to remove once grass has begun to grow through them.

We all have a duty to obey the law, and the church authorities are liable for the law’s enforcement in these churchyards. Sadly, if there are those who wilfully continue to breach the regulations, direct action will have to be taken to make graves conform.

You are in the grounds of a listed building, so the regulations are even more stringent. Faculty Jurisdiction is the equivalent of Planning Regulations in a secular environment, and just as legally enforceable. The Church becomes liable in law if it does not police the regulations properly.

Enforcing the regulations in the face of wilful contravention is stressful to us when our purpose is to give comfort where possible in your grief. Please do not risk a confrontation by breaking the rules. The aim of these regulations is to have a fitting and dignified last resting place for your loved ones; to allow easy maintenance and to keep the Churchyard in sympathy within a Christian and English rural setting. We are also very concerned to help you, and all other visitors, have comfort in their grief by providing a worthy resting place for all the departed.