Codicil to the Diocesan Regulations

Directly affecting St Andrew's Church, Boothby Pagnell

St Andrew's Church is a 14^th century stone church in a rural setting and the Parochial Church Council ( PCC )are anxious to preserve the ambience which exists in the Churchyard surrounding the church. The PCC of St Andrew's has created this codicil to be used in conjunction with the Diocesan Regulations regarding Churchyards:

1 The bereaved pay purely for the work involved in the burial and for a small part of the cost of the general maintenance of the churchyard. They have no entitlement to the plot of land in which their loved one is buried or where their ashes are interred.

2 The whole churchyard remains in the ownership of the Church, as such, it is the duty of the PCC and the parish priest to preserve the churchyard’s distinctive character both for the sake of generations to come and for relatives of those who have died and who are buried in the churchyard.

3 All excess spoil arising from the grave excavation is to be spread evenly in the NE corner of the churchyard at the rear of the building at the discretion of the PCC prior to the burial being undertaken.

4 The existence of a similar memorial in the churchyard to one for which permission is being sought, will not necessarily be a reason to give permission for replication. For example, the existence of kerbs around an old memorial would not be a reason, in itself, for permitting kerbs around a new memorial. Kerbs make the tending and mowing of the churchyard, by the PCC, more difficult.

5 To reinforce the Diocesan Regulations it should be noted that headstones, crosses or other memorials should be made of natural stone (with no reflecting finish), teak or oak, cast or wrought iron. Traditional stones are normally used. We look for the use of stone which will meld into its distinctive character and weather well with its surroundings, such as limestone, sandstone and slate. These stones are those which, experience tells us, achieve this. Granite stones and marble, particularly when polished, do not. Neither black nor dark grey granites are permitted, nor marble, synthetic stone or plastics. The reason for these requirements is that we are seeking to preserve the overall distinctive character of the churchyard as a whole, both as a resting place for all those who have died and also for the physical setting of the church presence in the midst of the community.

6 No artificial flowers may be placed in the churchyard except Remembrance Day poppies, traditional Christmas wreaths and good quality silk flowers and these shall be removed within 3 months. The PCC has authority to remove any artificial flowers which do not comply.

7 Spent floral tributes should also be removed from site after 3 months.

8 The surface of the churchyard should be kept level and where a grave mound has not been levelled within 12 months of burial, the PCC will give instructions for that to be done.

9 Vertical memorial headstones should be fixed in an upright position of 90 degrees, in keeping with the rest of the churchyard.

3^rd July 2008

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