St Mary’s at Fretherne

Burials Policy

Effective from 1 February 2025

In 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 Statement

There 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 Fretherne

There 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 [email protected], or on 01452 903720) in the first instance.