We extend to you our prayers and sympathy at this time of bereavement.

 “Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. So we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage one another with these words”
(1 Thessalonians 4, 14, 17b, 18)

The following contains we hope helpful notes on the use of the Churchyard extension, opposite St Lawrence Church on the Stafford Road, which is maintained for the church by the Parish Council. Further details can be obtained from the Vicar (01785 822 213).

Gnosall Parish Burial Ground

The Burial Ground comes under the authority of the Diocese of Lichfield and is maintained by Gnosall Parish Council. Graves in the Burial Ground are available for those who have lived in the Parish or are related to somebody already buried there. They are dug consecutively in the area which is currently being used, and are usually for two interments. The fees charged are statutory and are payable to the Church; the whole of the burial fee and part of the memorial fee is remitted to the Parish Council for the upkeep of the area. The Vicar and the Parish Council ask for your co-operation in helping to create and maintain the Burial Ground as a place of beauty and peace and as a resting place for loved ones.

In Loving Memory

You may wish to honour the memory of your loved one by placing a headstone or memorial over the grave. If so, there are certain points to bear in mind.

Memorial Stones

An upright memorial stone for a grave must be within the following dimensions:
Height: No more that 1220mm nor less that 760mm including the base
Width: No more than 915mm or less than 510mm
Thickness: No more than 150mm nor less than 75mm for limestones and all others, except slate, which can be 38mm.

An upright memorial stone in the area set aside for cremated remains and in the children’s area must be to the following dimensions:
Height: 610mm including the base.
Width: 410mm
Thickness: 75mm

Alternatively you may prefer a stone level with the ground in an area by the boundary hedge set aside for cremated remains. If so then the size of the stone should not be more than 460mm by 460mm

There are various colours of memorial available, we would ask you to discuss this with the Vicar and your stonemason, but would ask you not to choose black.
Memorials can only have reflective surfaces on the inscribed surface; the other surfaces must be non-reflective.

Memorials may have one or two receptacles for flowers within the base

Stone vases of good design, not less than 200mm cube and no more than 305mm cube, which have been securely cemented into a sunken slab are acceptable.

Kerbstones are not allowed and vases must be incorporated in the base of the headstone.

While you are deciding upon which memorial stone to use you are allowed to place a temporary hardwood cross over the grave. If so the cross must not exceed 915mm in height with the transom in commensurate proportion. This is only a temporary feature and must be replaced in due course with a stone memorial.

Maintenance.

For some considerable time after the burial, the surface of the grave will sink. You may, if you wish, add topsoil as required to maintain a level with the surrounding ground, and grass seed, but in order that the grassed area may be kept neatly mown, we ask younot to plant flowers or shrubs on the graves. We appreciate that families and friends of the deceased may wish to place flowers on the grave immediately after the burial, but thereafter we ask you not to place vases or other receptacles on the grave except where the headstone will eventually be erected.

Artificial flowers of good quality may be placed on memorials on the clear understanding that they be removed by the family or the ground staff when they are passed their best.

Just inside the main gate there are a water supply and bins for the disposal of dead flowers.

Please ensure all gates are shut as you enter or leave the burial ground.

Consultation.

When you do think that it is time to do something, remember that you will need the Vicar's permission for whatever kind of memorial you wish to put in the burial ground. First of all, therefore, you need to consult the Vicar who can explain what kinds of memorial may be allowed. Talk the matter over; discuss what sort of memorial you have in mind and what form of words you would like to have inscribed.

Appearance of Memorials

A memorial should fit in with its surrounds: not all the memorials need to look exactly the same - then the burial ground looks dull - but a memorial should not look out of place. The stone is going to be there for many years and will influence the look of the burial ground as long as it is there. Try to choose a type of stone that will complement its surroundings. The Vicar will be able to advise you about the shape of the stone that you can have. A decoration, either plain cut into the stone or gilded (but not painted) may be allowed, especially if the motif refers to a hobby, calling or interest of the deceased. We will not allow photographic memorial plaques.

Authorisation

You need to gain a blue form either from the undertaker you have been involved with, or direct from the Vicar. The stonemason you have chosen to do the work will complete the rest of the forms.

• When completed, bring/send them back to the Vicar who will sign them to indicate that the work may go ahead, if the proposals are within the limits of his/her authority
• One form will be retained, the other returned to the applicant or the stonemason.
• It is very important that the work is carried out exactly as it has been authorised by the Vicar.     

Cremated Remains

After cremation, ashes may be interred in the special area which has been set aside for this purpose. The plots are closer together and therefore the headstones are smaller than in the main area. The same application forms have to be completed. Alternatively, ashes may be laid to rest in an existing grave, regardless of the number of previous burials.

Additional Inscriptions

The same application forms are used when an applicant wishes to add an additional inscription to a memorial.

Footnote

The purpose of the regulations is to assist maintenance, to make sure that the memorials fit in with their surroundings and to discourage vandalism.

You can print this information by dowloading file

If you would like to discuss any of these matters please contact the Priest-in-charge: Revd Mark Bridgen