St Wilfrid's Church, Ribchester, Preston

- Regulations - Materials - Finishes - Dimensions - Design / Shape - Carving / Ornamentation - Inscriptions - Masons & Applications - Cremation & Ashes - Additional Details - Address For Application - Cheque Payable To - Churchyard Fees

Churchyard Plan (currently unavailable)

View Google Map Location - Click HERE

Contact Details

Regulations

These regulations are for the maintenance, safety and harmony within the Churchyard.

A Church of England Churchyard is not a public cemetery, therefore please consult the Church and your local mason first and do not assume everything is allowed!

• Parishioners whose names are on the Electoral Register have a right of burial, including the right to have ashes buried.  There are other circumstances that a right of burial would be considered, but it is not an automatic right and for clarity permission must be sought.

• It is usual for grave spaces to hold two full burials and a number of ashes burials.

• No memorial can be erected or works undertaken without the written consent of the incumbent, priest in charge or church warden.

• The memorial is the property of the person who erected it and its maintenance is the responsibility of the purchaser, and in the case of their death, this falls to their descendants. The P.C.C. also have duties to ensure that the churchyard is reasonably safe for those who come there.

• Only a memorial within the dimensions and criteria laid out is allowed. The grave is to be left grassed. No edgings or gardening is allowed. All items left on the grave will be removed and disposed of without any notice. Flowers are allowed to be placed in vase container built into the memorial. Wreaths or poppies will be allowed if attached to the memorial, for a short appropriate period of time.

Each P.C.C. has discretion to interpret the regulations to maintain the harmony of their churchyard. These interpretations are available on the Blackburn Diocese website (www.blackburn.anglican.org) and the new Lancashire Churchyards website (www.lancashirechurchyards.co.uk)

Materials

• Materials must harmonise with existing memorials and the church building.
  

• York stone and green slate or their equivalent colours and durability are allowed.

• British quarried stones will generally be permitted.

• Coloured granites would be allowed providing a minimum of 10% of the colour is already present within the churchyard.

• All other materials are not allowed, especially: any marble, synthetic stone, plastic materials, metal and terra cotta.

• If a material not falling into the accepted category is requested, then a faculty would be required.

• St Wilfrid's P.C.C have decided that the colours and materials allowed, without a faculty, are shown below:
  

Finishes

• A honed (non reflective) finish is preferred. However a polished finish is allowed providing a minimum of 10% of this colour and finish is already present within the section of the churchyard dated from the 1960's to 2012.
  

• St Wilfrid's P.C.C. have decided that in the new section only a honed finish will be allowed on the above materials. A polished finish will NOT be allowed.

• St Wilfrid's P.C.C. have decided that on each memorial all materials above ground, on the new section, must be of the SAME colour and finish. This means that the plinth or foundation, if visible, must match the colour and finish of the headstone. This is to maintain the harmony of the churchyard.
  

Dimensions

• Headstones – MAXIMUM dimensions including anything above ground including any foundation, plinth, base or headstone are 48” (1200 mm) high, 36” (900 mm) wide and 18” (450 mm) deep.

• The foundation must always be below ground level.

• Memorials outside these maximum dimensions will require a faculty.

Design / Shape

• Many shapes are acceptable that fit within the maximum dimensions and are structurally compliant with BS 8415 and the current edition of the NAMM Code of Working Practice.

• If the shape is declined by the P.C.C., the applicant has the right to make an application for a faculty.

• St Wilfrid's P.C.C. have decided, in the new section, only to allow designs and shapes that already exist in the section closest to the church that pre date 1920. This is to maintain the harmony of the churchyard. Please see the image below for examples.

Carving / Ornamentation

• Carving or ornamentation should be consistent with Christian belief and the character of the local churchyard.

• Designs and ornaments cut into the material are allowed, such as flowers and crosses.

• No photograph, cameo or portraiture of the deceased is allowed.

• No kerbs, railings, plain or coloured chippings, statues or birdbaths are allowed.

• Ornamentation reflecting an occupation would be allowed at the discretion of the P.C.C.  However, if the ornamentation is declined, again the applicant has the right to make an application for a faculty.

Inscriptions

• The inscription must read well now and be appropriate in the future and consistent with Christian beliefs.  If the incumbent and P.C.C. feel the inscription is not appropriate and a compromise is not agreed, then the applicant has the right to apply for a faculty.

• The inscription should include a full Christian name and surname of the deceased date (or year) of death and age, or of the dates of birth and death. In expressing these dates it is preferable to use the notation 1st January 1992 rather than 1/1/92. In addition, if space permits, it is good to include occupation, title or honour and where he or she lived.

• The mason’s name must be inscribed on the side or the reverse of the memorial at ground level no larger than 15mm in height.  This is to ensure traceability of the mason, should there be any stability issues in the future.  Trademarks or advertisements are NOT permitted.

• Lettering may be unpainted, painted, gilded or leaded.
  

• Additional inscriptions are allowed that match the layout of the original inscription. Permission must first be given by the church and a fee is payable. Your local BRAMM/RQMF registered mason will make the application on your behalf, but the applicant must prove they are the grave owner or their legal descendant.

Masons & Applications

• Ask to see previous work the mason has already carried out in the local area, and preferably this churchyard.

• Always try to see the size and colour of the memorial you are choosing, as photographs can deceive.

• Ask for a scale drawing of the memorial showing the style and layout of your inscription, prior to making your final choice.

• Your memorial mason should be able to give you professional advice on what will fit your memorial and be acceptable to the church. Always try to leave some space on the memorial, rather than fill all the available space. It is not possible to say everything you wish to say in your thoughts, and the memorial is not another obituary notice.

• The memorial must be erected to the current edition of the NAMM Code of Working Practice which supports British Standard 8415. The memorial must be erected by masons currently on the RQMF (Register of Qualified Memorial Fixers) website www.nammregister.org or the BRAMM (British Register of Memorial Masons) website www.bramm.org, for up to date lists.

• A full application must be submitted by the BRAMM/RQMF registered memorial mason showing overall dimensions and method of construction together with a scale drawing clearly showing the inscription layout together with any ornamentation, the material and its finish.

• A Church of England fee is payable - Click HERE

• Application Form

• No work should be undertaken until the application has been approved.

• The regulations are for the maintenance, safety and harmony within the Churchyard. A Church of England Churchyard is not a public cemetery, therefore please consult the church and your local mason first and do not assume everything is allowed!

Cremations & Ashes

• A new cremation section is currently under discussion with St Wilfrid's P.C.C. - the following details are only one option currently being considered, but have NOT been confirmed.
  

• A special section is available for the commemoration of cremated remains and up to two sets of ashes can be accommodated.  A wedge shaped memorial 12” x 12” x 6/1” of a honed mid grey granite with cut and silver grey painted letters is available.

• The cost the cremation plot is £225, if a further burial of ashes then there will be a charge of £120 payable to St. Wilfrid's P.C.C.

• The church fee for the cremation plaque is £81.00 and your BRAMM/RQMF local mason will submit a scale drawing and the necessary paperwork on your behalf – see photographs.

Additional Details

• To arrange a burial in a grave, or for the burial of cremated remains, and confirmation of all current fees please see contact details at the top of page.

• Use your BRAMM/RQMF registered local mason to advise you upon an acceptable memorial or additional inscription.

• The regulations are for the maintenance, safety and harmony within the Churchyard. A Church of England Churchyard is not a public cemetery, therefore please consult the church and your local mason first and do not assume everything is allowed!

View Official Website - Click HERE

Churchyard Plan (currently unavailable)

Application Form

Address For Application

Cheques payable to:

Parish of St Wilfrid Ribchester

Fees

Church of England Fees Apply - Click HERE