The churchyard is a place of history and remembrance, and is special to residents, visitors and families of those buried there. It is also a conservation area and a place of natural beauty, home to diverse species of plants and wildlife. It deserves our protection.
No Sprays or Chemicals
No herbicides, insecticides, fungicides or other pesticides to be used in this Churchyard without the permission of the PCC
Re-use of plots
When will the Churchyard be full... now, sometime, or never?
Since 1559 there have been over 6,500 burials in Stogumber churchyard. And as there has been a church here since at least 1060, there are probably over 10,000 people buried in our churchyard. It could be argued that Stogumber churchyard is already more than full. However, it has been the custom and law in English churchyards to re-use burial plots, a process which was easier when most people could not afford a permanent headstone or marker.
The alternative to re-using burial plots would be to declare the churchyard 'full'. Stogumber Parish Council or Somerset Council would then be legally obliged to takeover maintenance of the churchyard, such a grass-cutting and tree work, and this would save Stogumber Church a lot of expense and trouble. However, there would be two significant disadvantages. First, the Council (with all its commitments) might not be able to maintain the churchyard as we would like. Second, where would Stogumber residents be buried?
The Parochial Church Council has therefore decided that it will keep the churchyard open, and will continue the normal practice of re-using burial plots. At some point in the future, when the available space (the areas without marked or recent graves) is full, headstones would need to be removed. This would generally be after 100 years and when there are no representatives of the deceased who object.
Memorials
Headstones (including any plinth) shall be:
> no more than 4 feet high above ground, 3 feet wide and 7 inches thick, and
> no less than 2 feet 6 inches high above ground, 1 foot 8 inches wide and 3 inches thick.
> Crosses no more than 4 feet high above ground are acceptable.
Horizontal ledgers (over burials) shall be: just below the level of the turf and measure:
> no more than 7 feet x 3 feet and no less than 4 feet x 2 feet.
Memorial plaques over cremated remains shall be just below the level of the turf and measure:
> no more than 18 inches x 16 inches.
Vases shall be separate and measure: not more than 12 inches x 8 inches x 8 inches.
Monuments may be of natural wood or natural stone. Stones traditionally used in local buildings or closely similar to them in colour and texture are appropriate.
Stone shall not be polished or reflective.
Black and pearl granite, marble of any colour, synthetic stone and plastic shall not be permitted.
A monument shall not include any raised kerb, railings, stone or other chippings, picture or photograph, built-in vase container, statuary or bird bath. All monuments shall be simple in shape.
No colour shall be introduced except black or white.
Responsibility for the safe installation of any memorial rests with the monumental mason. The person who purchased the memorial and, after that person’s death, the heirs of the deceased have an ongoing liability for its maintenance in a safe condition.
The existence of tombstones or monuments which do not comply with the terms of this notice cannot be regarded as a precedent.
The above is a summary of the rules here:
https://www.bathandwells.org.uk/content/pages/documents/buildings-churchyard-regulations-2020.doc