CHURCHYARD POLICY

CHURCHYARD POLICY

ST HELEN’S CHURCH OVERTON

MAINTENANCE OF CHURCHYARDS

PCCs have a duty to see that churchyards are kept generally in such an orderly and decent manner as becomes consecrated ground and that boundaries are defined and maintained.

We rely on our committed volunteers who give up their time and energy to keep the churchyard in good order. They are responsible only for the cutting of the grass and not maintenance of individual graves or plots where ashes are interred in the memorial garden. The responsibility for maintenance of memorial stones lies with the family.

FLOWERS, WREATHES AND ORNAMENTS

Everything of significance related to the churchyard is covered by Diocesan rules available on the Blackburn Diocese website. Whilst fresh flowers are preferred the PCC of St Helen’s Church understands that some families wish to mark anniversaries of a loved one with artificial items. The PCC and volunteer grass cutters cannot be held responsible for items left on graves or in the memorial garden.

A churchyard is meant to be a place of permanent peace and beauty, a resting place for the departed, a memorial to our loved ones and a sanctuary of the natural world.

Please help us to keep St Helen’s Churchyard this way by clearing away dead flowers, wreathes and artificial items which have deteriorated from exposure to the elements.

THE PCC ST HELEN’S CHURCH OVERTON