Memorial Garden

St. Michael's does not have a graveyard but we do have a tranquil Memorial garden where cremated remains may be buried. Ashes may be interred in a suitable wooden casket (no plastic is allowed) or poured directly into the ground.  No plaques or plates are allowed although flowers and small items may be left at the Tree of Hope.  Services can be arranged at convenient times although this is normally at 11.30 on a Sunday.  The current fees are approximately £232.00. Please contact us for further details.

PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW CAREFULLY:

At a meeting of the Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels with St. Mark held on 12th December 2021 the following Local Memorial Garden Rules were agreed and took immediate effect.

The PCC recognises how important it is for people who have lost loved ones to have a place in which they can mourn their loss. It is natural for people to want to make the grave of their loved one special and personal, it is sacred ground. The PCC is sensitive to this need. However, in the Memorial Garden there have been many burials of ashes. The PCC need to ensure that all graves are tended in ways that are acceptable to everyone; that they fit in with their surroundings, and that they are safe for visitors and wildlife. With this in mind the PCC have adopted the following Rules:

Memorial Garden Rules

Please refrain from using:

Loose vases, pots, candle-holders and any other ornament on the grave. These can be easily knocked over and broken leaving shards in the grass. The lawn area needs to be kept clear to enable regular mowing. Small memorial items may be placed in the western corner of the Memorial Garden near the wooden tree or hung from its branches.

Flowers may be left on the ground atop a grave, but should be removed from any paper or plastic packaging. Please take this away with you. The flowers will be removed in due course.

No fencing, edging or chippings may be put on any part of a grave or its surrounds.

Artificial flowers, including ones made of plastic and silk, windmills, wind chimes, plastic or stone based representations of people or animals or any other object may not be placed on a grave or its surrounds.

If the grave is that of a member of the Armed Forces a small British Legion wooden cross, wreath of poppies or small national flag may be placed on the grave from October to December each year or for a week either side of the date of death.

The PCC maintain the right to remove any object from a grave it considers inappropriate or convenes these rules.

Memorials and Headstones ***

It is not possible to place memorial tablets sunk into the ground, or headstones above. However, the name and details of the deceased will be recorded in the Memorial Book in the church, which may be seen at any time the building is open, and the pages of which are changed to reflect the current date.

By keeping to these simple rules the Memorial Garden remains a place that is appropriate for all and ensures its easy and appropriate maintenance.

Dogs

We understand that people may wish to bring their dogs into the garden while they spend some quiet time reflecting on loved ones. We do however request that dogs are kept on a lead at all times and that they are not allowed to foul this area or any other part of our church grounds.