Burials in Seal Churchyard

 Diocese of Rochester rules for churchyards

Records of burials in Seal Churchyard

Planning a funeral - some guidelines

The death of someone close to you is always hard to deal with. As well as the sadness you feel at their loss, you may also feel overwhelmed by all the practical decisions which must be made at this time. If you are planning a funeral in Seal Church or a service at the Crematorium which a minister from Seal Church is leading you may find this information helpful. 

We hope that the information on this page will answer some of the questions people often ask about burial and interment of ashes in Seal Churchyard, and help them to care for the grave afterwards. Please ask if there is anything else you would like to know.

WHO CAN BE BURIED IN SEAL CHURCHYARD?

The churchyard at St Peter and St Paul is very ancient, and there is very little remaining space for burials. For this reason,  unless they are to be interred in an existing grave, we can only bury those who have the legal right to be interred here. These are:

• Those living in the parish at the time of their death (whether they died at home or in hospital.)
• Those on the church electoral roll (this is not the same as the civil electoral roll.)
• Those who happen to die in the parish.

People do not have to have been regular churchgoers or hold any particular religious beliefs to be buried here.

Unfortunately, because of the shortage of space, we cannot bury those who lived in the parish at some earlier stage of their lives but have subsequently moved away. However, at the discretion of the priest in charge, it may be possible to bury the cremated remains (ashes) of people who are not parishioners.

BURIAL OF ASHES

Burial of ashes can take place soon after the cremation, in which case the funeral directors will usually make the arrangements. Alternatively it can be arranged directly between the family and the priest at a later stage. There is normally a short (5 min.) service in the churchyard on these occasions, during which the ashes are poured into a hole in the ground. We do not bury ashes in caskets of any sort, as these take up more space, nor do we permit scattering of ashes on the surface of the graveyard. Interment of ashes at a later time costs £165, plus the gravedigger's fee of £65.

The site of the interment can be marked with a small stone, (12 x 18 inch maximum) laid flat on the ground. There are additional fees for permission for this (see below)

If you would like to arrange an interment of ashes, please contact the vicar. The application form can be downloaded here. 

MEMORIALS

Graves can be marked with a memorial stone (see above for details of memorial stones for interments of ashes). The first step in arranging this is to talk to a funeral director or stonemason.

There are strict rules about the kind of stone used, the inscription on it and the way the grave is cared for later. These rules are made by the Diocese of Rochester, which has authority over all the parish churches in this area. The parish priest can’t give permission for anything outside these guidelines.

Details of these rules – the “Churchyard Regulations 1981” – can be found in the church porch or on the church website. Funeral directors and stonemasons also have copies. They will give you a form, which you will have to sign when you apply for a memorial, saying that you have read and will abide by these rules. Permission to put up a memorial stone or to add an inscription to an existing stone ranges from £43 for a small wooden cross to £136 for a full size headstone for a grave. The fees usually go up each year – these are prices for 2018. Church fees are set nationally by statute each year, and more details can be found on the Church of England Website. Permission for an additional inscription on an existing headstone costs £27.

You may also request an entry in the memorial book, which is displayed in the Lady Chapel.

CARING FOR A GRAVE

We recognize how important it is for people to have a place in which they can mourn someone they have loved. It is natural for people to want to make the grave of their loved one special and personal. We try to be sensitive about this and to let people grieve in the way that they need to.

However, the churchyard is a public space which is used by many other people, including other mourners. We need to make sure, therefore, that graves are tended in ways that are acceptable to everyone, and that they fit in with their surroundings. It is also important that the churchyard is safe for the people who use it, and that, as a valuable habitat for wildlife, we do all we can to look after the animals and plants that live in it too.

The“Churchyard Regulations”  give clear guidance about how graves are to be cared for. These rules apply whether or not you have put up a gravestone, so everyone needs to be aware of them. I have summarized the most important rules for maintaining a grave in Seal churchyard below.

CHURCHYARD RULES

• You must not put loose vases, pots, candle-holders or any other ornament on a grave. They can easily be knocked over and broken, leaving glass or pottery shards in the grass which might hurt other visitors.  Vases must be completely sunk into the ground and can only be put in the churchyard with permission from the priest.
•  You may plant bulbs or SMALL plants on a grave, but not shrubs or trees. Please check how big your plants might eventually grow before you plant them! If they get too big, the PCC (church council) may remove them in order to mow over the grave.
•  You must not put fences or edging of any sort around a grave or put chippings on it. They make it difficult to maintain the churchyard neatly. 
• You must not place artificial flowers, windmills or wind-chimes on a grave. These soon get dirty and faded when left in the open, and spoil the beauty of the churchyard for other mourners.
•  You must remove the plastic wrapping around flowers if you lay them on a grave. Plastic wrappers not only create litter, but can be dangerous to wildlife.

PLEASE NOTE:

These rules apply to everyone tending a grave in the churchyard. The PCC (church council) has the right to remove anything which contravenes them. You may see other graves where people don’t seem to be abiding by these rules – please don’t assume that this means that you can disregard them too. It may simply be that we have been unable to speak to the family who care for that grave yet. We all need to work together to keep Seal Churchyard looking beautiful and we appreciate your co-operation in this.

HOW MUCH DOES BURIAL COST?

The costs of a funeral service and burial will be explained to you by the funeral director, and he or she will normally arrange payment of fees to the church. Interment of ashes at a later time costs (from Jan 1) £158, plus the gravedigger's fee of £65.

Permission to put up a memorial stone or to add an inscription to an existing stone ranges from £43 for a small wooden cross to £136 for a full size headstone for a grave. The fees usually go up each year – these are prices for 2018. You can find out more about Church fees are set nationally and more details can be found here.

A PRAYER FOR TIMES OF SORROW

Loving Lord, help me to place (N.) into your hands, for you know and love him/her as your child. Be with me in the dark times of grief, and hold me till the morning comes.  Amen

More prayers here