Churchyard

Transfer of Churchyard Maintenance Responsibility to Cherwell District Council

The provision and maintenance of places of burial is the responsibility of the local parish council. Where there is an open churchyard then the church continues to have the responsibility, but once the churchyard is full and formally closed then the maintenance of the churchyard can devolve to the local parish council. (ref. Local Government Act 1972)

St Olave’s, Fritwell was deemed to have a full churchyard and was formally closed by the Privy Council (Queen’s Council) in June 1996. However, at that time the Parochial Church Council (PCC) decided to continue to maintain the churchyard themselves.

It became apparent over the last few years that there now weren’t enough regular, committed volunteers to undertake the maintenance of the whole churchyard. Therefore on 7th July 2023 the Rector, churchwarden and PCC gave notice to Fritwell Parish Council for the maintenance of the churchyard under section 215 of the Local Government Act 1972.

This meant that after a three month notice period the responsibility of the maintenance was deferred to the local council. As is their right, Fritwell Parish Council, in turn, deferred this responsibility to Cherwell District Council (CDC).

However, from 7th October, CDC have been querying the legality of the process and so, at present, the responsibility of the maintenance of the churchyard still lies with the Parish Council.  It is hoped that this situation will be sorted out very soon.  It seems to be out of the church's hands.

For clarity, the churchyard, including trees, walls, gates etc. is still the property of the church but the maintenance is carried out by the council. The churchyard is only closed to new, full burials. Burials into existing family graves and the burial of ashes is still permitted with permission.

Regular visitors who visit the graves of family members to keep the headstone tidy should continue to do so. Headstones are the responsibility of the families. Please see a link for the Oxford Diocese’s Churchyard Regulations for the rules about what is permitted on graves.

We were able to handover the churchyard with the churchyard looking its best. This is thanks to our regular volunteers who have mown and strimmed the churchyard week in and week out for years. Also thanks to people who joined working parties just before the handover.

We are very hopeful that when the legalities are resolved it will keep the churchyard looking its best.

Revd. Helen C. Barnes, Team Rector, February 2024

Lychgate

Sometime between 7th and 9th October 2023, it seems that a vehicle has hit the lychgate with some force.  No-one has come forward and admitted this.  However, the stonework in the front of the lychgate on the left has been damaged and we're unsure how safe the lychgate now is.  We will have this repaired in the spring.  In the meantime, please try not to go through the lychgate, but rather use the gate to the side.