New for 2025 – The PCC has agreed that no herbicides (weedkillers) should be used anywhere within the churchyard. Anyone tending to graves, or other areas of the churchyard are asked to respect this decision of the PCC.Area AThis covers the area from the church gate leading from the road to the South porch (just past the boiler shed to the west of the church.This area has a large amount of spring flowers so regular cutting will be limited to pathways for most of the growing season. Fungi are visible in spring and autumn occasionally. Two areas will be left generally uncut for wildlife, one having been planted with wildflower seeds will not be cut so that the seed heads are left for the winter. The other small area forms tussocky grass adjacent to the hedge-line and half of it will be cut each year. A large part of the area is left from April/May to the end of July for summer meadow flowers. Clippings always removed whenever grass is cut.The regularly tended graves in this area where families have asked for grass to be kept short are kept cut, as is the war grave. A margin of tall grass is left by the hedge-line.Area BThis area is at the rear of the church (facing south looking towards the river) and is dealt with in two different ways.Area B1 - Where the newest/regularly visited graves are located the aim is for as much of the grass area as possible to be kept between short and medium length. Mowing is primarily focused on ensuring access paths between graves, avoiding flowering wildflowers where possible. Levelled and grassed graves may possibly be cut but this will not be on a regular basis.Area B2 - The second part of the area is left to grow long each year (from April/May, for a max 16 weeks) as a summer meadow area, with a mown path to the compost bin. This long grass area will ideally to be cut between the end of July to October so that any fungi are visible in the autumn. Area CThis area covers the ground between the two church gates following the roadside boundary wall up to the path around the church.Only one regularly tended grave in this area. Cuts are monthly during the growing season (equates to short/medium length) with patches of flowering wildflowers left to seedArea DThis area covers the ground from the roadside wall up to the lime tree/compost bin, following the east face of the church.There are four regularly tended graves in this area, so these will be accessed by means of paths from the compost bin and path around the church. Some areas will be cut after the spring flowers have set seed (mid to late June). The area where an orchid has bloomed in the past will be allowed to grow long to (hopefully) allow it to bloom again.The remainder of this area is being allowed to become a tussocky grass area and will only be cut once a year, ideally between late August and the middle of October.If you have some spare time and would like to help us manage our grass areas for wildlife please contact the Churchwarden.
In our fantastic Easter Super Draw one lucky supporter will win a luxury City Break worth £1,000! Whether you want to hit the West End for a weekend, see the architecture and nightlife of Barcelona, sample the art and food of Florence, or soak up the culture in Paris, this prize is simply not to be missed! Of course as the lucky winner you can opt for the £1,000 cash alternative, and spend it your way!The Lottery Super Draw gives people flexible ways to play – instead of committing to weekly tickets, you can choose to just buy tickets for the Super Draw week, meaning more flexibility and less commitment, whilst still supporting our beautiful Church.If you already support us you don't need to buy a separate ticket - you are automatically entered into the special draw, but of course you could buy extra tickets: the more tickets you have, the more chances to WIN! Any existing supporters can even choose to TOP-UP their tickets just for the week of the Super Draw!Remember 50p from every ticket purchased comes to us. See attached poster to scan the QR Code to go directly to the webpage to purchase tickets.
St Mary’s at FretherneBurials PolicyEffective from 1 February 2025In common with many other churchyards and cemeteries in England, St Mary’s churchyard has limits on the space available for new graves. The PCC has agreed that the following Burial Policy should be adhered to with effect from 1 February 2025.Policy StatementThere is a legal duty to bury at the parish church• Anyone resident within the parish at time of death.• Anyone staying in the parish at time of death.• Anyone on the Parish Church's electoral roll at time of death.Specific Additional Arrangement in the parish of FretherneThere has been a long-standing practice of accepting deceased residents from the other adjacent (Severnside) parishes. The PCC has agreed that this practice will continue so long as the person was resident within any of the Severnside parishes within five years of the date of their death.When a person previously resident within the parish of Fretherne or a person who was previously resident within any of the adjacent (Severnside) parishes, has been resident away from the parish of Fretherne or its adjacent parishes for more than 5 years, an interment of ashes would be offered instead of a burial plot.There are no issues with space to provide new plots for the interment of ashes for the foreseeable future.Exceptions to this policy will be considered in the light of the specific pastoral issues relating to the individual. Please contact the Vicar (Rev Liz Palin at rectorstroudwater@gmail.com, or on 01452 903720) in the first instance.
The churchyards around our churches are an important part of the Church’s mission since they provide a pleasant, welcoming environment in which to remember our loved ones. All our Parochial Church Councils are very grateful for the hard work of the many volunteers who look after our churchyards year after year, Helping to care for our loved ones’ graves is an important part of making and keeping our churchyards a pleasant place to visit. It is therefore very important to ensure that they are maintained in good order as befits a final resting place for the departed and so as to preserve their historical, archaeological, architectural and ecological qualities. Throughout the country, every diocese has churchyard regulations These regulations seek to enhance and protect all that is loved within our churchyards and to protect them from harm and are binding on all parties. The day to day care of a churchyard is the legal responsibility of a PCC. Therefore it is important to contact the Team Rector – The Revd Liz Palin – to get agreement to any work to be done other than cutting the grass on and around a loved one’s grave before it takes place. Contact details Team Rector: The Revd Liz Palin rectorstroudwater@gmail.com or 01452 741147 Churchwardens: Jane Cleaver, Fretherne.church@gmail.com or 01452 740891
