ALL SAINTS MILTON
CHURCHYARD POLICY
The Churchyard at All Saints, Milton has been closed for burials since 1902 but the interment of cremated remains is allowed with consent by the priest-in-charge or incumbent. The rules below are set out in order to help maintain the churchyard in a consistent manner and to help support families of the deceased by making the regulations clear and concise.
The Parish Burial Ground on Landbeach Road is open for burials, and is managed by Milton Parish Council, who can be contacted via the Parish Council offices on Coles Road, telephone 01223 861447, email
PART I - GENERAL
1. Nothing shall be erected or placed, and no work shall be done in the churchyard without the consent of Ely Diocese or of the parish priest (incumbent or priest-in-charge) acting within the authority delegated to him/her by the diocesan chancellor. The extent of that authority is set out in Part II below. Where there is no parish priest the permission of the area/rural dean must be obtained and any reference in these rules to the parish priest shall be interpreted accordingly.
2. Any consent must be in writing. Any consent given by the chancellor will normally be by faculty (a formal document issued by the diocesan registrar).
3. Every application for consent shall be made in the first instance to the incumbent or priest-in-charge on the form prescribed by the diocese and accompanied by the appropriate fee. If the application is unable to be granted, then the applicant may then apply to the diocesan registrar for a faculty.
4. Applications for earth burials (as opposed to cremation) or memorial stones are unlikely to be considered as the churchyard is considered closed. Applicants are advised to discuss their proposals informally with the priest-in-charge or incumbent first.
5. The diocesan chancellor has power to require the removal of unauthorised memorials and to make orders for costs and impose fines for contempt. He/she also has power to impose restrictions on funeral directors and stonemasons ignoring these rules in churchyards under his/her authority.
6. No burials may take place in any churchyard that has been officially closed by an Order in Council unless the Order so provides. The only exception is the burial of cremated remains provided that this has first been authorised by faculty.
7. The parish priest has sole discretion to refer any application for consent to the diocesan chancellor for decision.
8. All applications for consent for a memorial inside a church must be referred to the diocesan chancellor.
PART II – MEMORIAL STONES
1. Cremated Remains
We have an area set aside for cremated remains. A memorial stone may be introduced at the place where the cremated remains of the person to be commemorated by the stone are interred, the dimensions of the stone being no larger than (18in/46cm) by (18in/46cm). It can be rectangular or square. It is to be laid flat and below the surface of the surrounding turf to facilitate mowing.
2. Materials
The stone should normally be a local stone which reflects the colours of the stone of the church building or the existing adjacent memorial stones. A memorial stone is not permitted if it is– (a) black, blue, red, or green (or appears to be any of those colours) or is otherwise brightly coloured, or (b) coloured or mottled granite, nor any granite darker than Karin Grey. (c) made of marble, synthetic stone plastic, or painted.
3. Prohibited items
Artificial flowers, kerbs, surrounds, railings, stone or other chippings, statues, sundials, bird baths, portraits, wind-chimes, windmills and the like, candles, trees, shrubs, photographs, holograms, laminated cards, seats, lights, toys, and other things not specifically permitted by these rules are prohibited.
4. Inscriptions
Inscriptions should be incised, or in relief, or in lead, and may be painted to enhance legibility in a darker or lighter version of the colour of the stone. Silver and gold lettering is permitted; plastic or other inserted lettering is not permitted. Additions may be made to an inscription later following a subsequent interment in the same grave or for some other suitable reason. However, any such alteration must be separately approved. The lettering, layout and wording must be consistent with the original inscription. Inscriptions must be simple and reverent, and preferably of Christian significance (Bible or Prayer Book in origin).
5. Wooden Crosses
Wooden Crosses are only considered a temporary marker and should be replaced by a memorial stone within a six month period.
PART III - MANAGEMENT
1. No Trees, shrubs may be planted on or around a memorial stone without separate Faculty permission.
2. No artificial flowers may be placed in the churchyard except for Remembrance Day poppies and traditional Christmas wreaths, and these shall be removed within one month, the local church has authority to remove them after that time. The PCC has permission to remove any flowers which do not comply with these regulations.
3. Wreaths and cut flowers must be removed as soon as they appear to be withered.
4. Flowers or pot plants can only be placed in the receptacle within the stone no additional vases are allowed.
6. The PCC may without notice remove any other object not authorised by these rules or by faculty.
7. The PCC may delegate the exercise of its powers in respect of the churchyard to an individual or individuals.
8. Primary responsibility for the repair and safety of existing monuments rests with the PCC, and with their successors. New memorials are the responsibility of those who arrange them.
9. Dogs must be kept under control and not allowed to foul the churchyard. The PCC may require dogs to be kept on leads and may exclude them.
In Conclusion
Management of the churchyard is a delicate balance between rules and regulations but also the disparate needs of different users of the churchyard. Please be respectful of those conflicting requirements and work with the church as it tries to honour those who have died and respect the feelings of those who have the remains of loved ones buried in the churchyard.
Information on burials and memorials from the Church Of England can be found here.