Caring for your churchyard
As a place of special interest to a wide range of people - mourners, parishioners, historians, ecologists, visitors and others - the care of the churchyard is regulated in a number of different ways. Like the church building and its contents, any significant work in the churchyard requires a faculty. The chancellor often delegates the authority to allow new monuments or inscriptions to the incumbent, within certain guidelines, by means of the diocesan Churchyard Regulations (also called Directions or Rules). Every significant work not covered by these, or any monuments which do not comply with them, will require a faculty.
The maintenance of the churchyard is also affected by secular jurisdiction. Planning permission should be obtained for any building work, work involving drainage, landscaping, the laying or altering of paths etc. Any alterations to any separately listed structure, such as a lychgate or monument, will require listed building consent. If the churchyard is within a Conservation Area, the appropriate consent will also need to be sought. The presence of scheduled ancient monuments in the churchyard, above or below ground, makes it also necessary to apply for the appropriate consent before any work is undertaken. Any works involving trees will also need permission if the tree is subject to a Tree Preservation Order or in a Conservation Area.
Other statutory protection measures which may affect a churchyard include the designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which may prohibit certain site-specific operations.
Any work with archaeological implications, such as digging drains, repairing monuments or tree removal, will require careful consideration of the potential archaeological evidence before any of the above permissions are given. Remember, you can always contact Phil Thomas for help and advice.
There is information on faculty matters on churchyeard, including forms for reservation of a gravespace on the Dennison Till website.
