THE Consistory Court of the diocese of Lichfield has granted a school, subject to strict conditions, for the creation of a dedicated area for the burial of cremated stays (“ABCR”) in consecrated ground at St Chad’s, Bagnall, a Grade II listed constructing in a conservation area.
The churchyard at St Chad’s is closed for coffin burials, but one area stays suitable for the interment of ashes. The churchwardens and a member of the PCC petitioned for a school for the creation of the ABCR in a triangular plot in consecrated ground.
The PCC had previously interred ashes in existing graves, or — if there was no suitable family grave — in a dedicated plot, marked with a headstone, which was smaller than those used historically for coffin burials. The PCC wished to increase that practice into the brand new ABCR, with headstones compliant with the present churchyard regulations from the diocese for coffin interments.
The DAC approved the situation for the ABCR, but didn’t approve the plot size and using headstones as proposed by the PCC. The DAC’s view was that the plot size was larger than required, and that using flat memorial stones was preferred because they accommodated movement around, and maintenance of, the ABCR.
The Diocesan Chancellor, the Worshipful Dr Anthony Verduyn, said that the DAC’s objections had been well made. Interment of cremated stays was “not similar to interment of a coffin”, he said, “and the features of memorialising a coffin burial mustn’t be replicated.”
The reuse of plots was more likely to arise sooner in respect of interred ashes than in respect of coffin burial, he said. Although just one interment of ashes was currently expected per yr within the ABCR, which may increase, and folks from outside the parish might seek interment of relatives there. It couldn’t be assumed “that space is not going to be much in demand, and that generous plots needs to be made available”.
For those reasons, the Chancellor rejected the PCC’s proposals for plot size and memorials. The query then arose whether the PCC’s petition needs to be refused in its entirety, or whether the school needs to be granted on strict terms.
The Chancellor said that, because there was currently no consecrated ground for coffin burials or burials of ashes in Bagnall, the case for the authorisation of an ABCR was a powerful one, supported by the PCC, the DAC, and the area people. The Chancellor decided that a school should subsequently be granted, but on strict conditions.
Those conditions were: first, that the one memorial at the purpose of interment that may be permitted was a plaque installed flush to the surface of the bottom. The ground may be terraced if mandatory. That condition didn’t preclude other memorials not positioned at the purpose of interment, akin to a Book of Remembrance. The second condition was that no plaque needs to be larger than 450mm in its longest dimension.
Third, individual plots (which could accommodate a couple of set of ashes) should be not more than 600mm of their longest dimension, and arranged in rows of contiguous plots.
Fourth, interments must normally be directly into the bottom. The incumbent may authorise using a container on pastoral grounds in exceptional cases. If a container is used, nevertheless, it should be of perishable material.
Fifth, no interments of cremated stays are to be allowed in any a part of the churchyard apart from the realm put aside by this faculty, unless authorised by further faculty, provided that, in thus far because the churchyard stays open for the burial of cremated stays, such stays could also be interred without further faculty in a grave inside which a relative of the person whose stays are to be interred has already been interred.
Any memorials that don’t comply with those conditions might be liable to be removed by order of the Consistory Court.
