A Churchyard is much more than the land around a church. It is a burial ground, a public open space but also a place of quite reflection and recreation, a diverse habitat sustaining plants and animals and is often a special place for the community.
The Churchyards and Cemeteries within this Benefice are maintained by dedicated volunteers with the support of external contractors, which is funded through the generosity of the local community by regular and one off donations.
We are always looking for an extra helping hand, may that be with a specific project or a regular commitment. Please refer to the volunteer page for more information.
If you would like to make a donation please contact the individual church or make a general donation online (participating PCCs only).
There are many specific funding opportunities, to name a few: sponsoring a memorial bench, the cleaning and maintenance of historic grave stones, installing and maintaining external lighting, daffodil planting and the planting and upkeep of trees. There are also biodiversity opportunities.
Some of our churches are also supported by their local Parish Council, for example: with annual funding to conserve War Graves, Village Clock upkeep, maintaining public rights of way, notice boards, co-ordinating conservation projects, funding equipment and a regular contribution towards the general upkeep of their village churchyard.
There are some generic Churchyard rules:
– please pick up and take any litter home with you or use the bin where provided.
– only plant spring bulbs or lay cut flowers by grave stones (remember to remove these when they are spent).
-be careful when walking round the churchyard, some ground is uneven. Keep to the path.
– dogs must be on a lead at all times and owners are required to be considerate of the bereaved and clean up after their dog (including faecal matter).
-no decorations, plants, photographs, memorabilia or any such item can be left on church grounds/by a grave. Inline with Church of England legislation, this is to support the natural habitat/environment and wildlife.
– the church reserves the right to lay flat or make safe any headstones that has been identified as unsafe and remove any unauthorized materials from a grave.
Reservations and Memorials:
You may wish to remember your loved one through:
- Planting a tree or shrub
- Sponsoring bulb planting
- A headstone
- A memorial bench
- Making a donation towards church nature projects
- A memorial plaque or marker
- Making a donation towards church restoration projects
Each item is subject to availability and a fee to help cover costs.
Application:
Applications should be submitted by email to Contactus@MoorandDale.church. The formal application is then forwarded to the relevant Parochial Church Council (PCC) for a decision. Please bear in mind PCC’s are built up of volunteers and they only meet up-to four times a year.
If you wish to reserve a grave space or place a headstone: to view the latest guidance and to print an official application form please visit Lupton & Fawcett LLP’s website, the appointed Registrar for the Diocese of York (the forms are at the bottom of their webpage).
Please note: The reservation of a grave space, the exercise of the right of burial or the erection of a memorial, do not confer upon the relative of the deceased or upon any other person, any right of ownership of the land in which the buriel is (or is to be) made.
The actual memorial (headstone etc) remain the property of the person who commissioned its erection during their lifetime and they are responsible for keeping it in good order and after their death this duty passes to the “heir at law’ of the deceased. Please ensure the relevant church has your most up to date contact details in writing.
If you live away and would like a general “grave tidy” please contact the relevant church for a price for the work requested.
