In this section you will find the Registry Guidance note about Churchyards, covering
- their consecration and use;
- maintenance responsibilities;
- memorial ownership, maintenance and safety including guidance and a handbook for the bereaved
- closure procedures and consequences.
The Registry Guidance on Churchyard Maintenance, Closure and Memorials attempts to explain how these various aspects link together and will be of particular use to clergy. See also:
The Diocesan Churchyard Memorial Regulations 2026 deal with the physical character of memorial stone and inscription which an incumbent may permit without a specific faculty being required. They also cover many other practical aspects of churchyard management.
Incumbents will require the standard memorial application form which will be needed before any approval can be given within the Regulations. The form contains a statement by the memorial mason that they have read the regulations and that the stone in question complies with the regulations.
Clergy will also find these documents vital when dealing with families:
And more generally
Creating a churchyard policy
This information will be useful to clergy and parishes who are thinking of setting up a Churchyard Policy. Parishes are reminded that Schedule 2 of the Churchyard Regulations describe the process that is involved in establishing such a policy - the current (2026) regulations will be added to this page shortly.
A Churchyard Policy should be adopted if a Parochial Church Council wishes to regularise the position in cases where it has been the practice to erect memorials outside the scope of the Regulations.
A few parishes within the Diocese have been kind enough to share their Churchyard Policies, so as to assist other parishes who might be looking for some guidance:
It should be noted that each churchyard policy will be particular and different, according to the needs of each parish and the churchyard in question.