Welcome to the website of the Holy Trinity Church, Eccleshall , Staffordshire

Churchyard Regulations

See items on Cremated Remains area on the home page

Holy Trinity Churchyard

Regulations and permission

The Chancellor of Lichfield Diocese makes certain rules and regulations for churchyards, and the regulations for Holy Trinity are to be found in the church porch. The regulations mean that only certain things are allowed in the churchyard, and the key will always be to check with the vicar first (or failing him, a churchwarden) before making an application to make a change to the churchyard.

Corrective action

Over a period of time and for perhaps understandable reasons, quite a few of the regulations  have not strictly been adhered to, and this is particularly the case with regard to the area set aside for the interment of cremated remains. In June the Archdeacon of Stoke paid an official visit to inspect the churchyard, and has pointed this out to us. If some of the unauthorised introductions to the churchyard have any connexion with you or your family, you may find that you are kindly in a position to remove the items involved, especially wooden and plastic kerbs and chippings contained with those kerbs. Nevertheless, if you are not in a position to do so then, acting on the Archdeacon's recommendation, planning permission will be sought in due course (most likely when the area for cremated remains is closed for further interments in a few months' time) to regularise the position.

New area for cremated remains

We'd also like you to have plenty of notice that, as the current area for the interment of cremated remains is nearly full, the church council will be seeking planning permission for a new area for cremated remains. With the encouragement of the Diocesan Advisory Council for the Care of Churches, the new approach will be in line with what occurs at many crematoria: there will be a central monument where flowers may be placed, but there will be no individual memorial tablets. The ecologically friendly plan will be to place cremated remains directly into the earth, with no caskets. A book of remembrance in church (which is usually open daily) will record the names of those whose remains lie in the designated area.

Maintenance

We are very grateful indeed to the 'Churchyard Working Party' at Holy Trinity. Since the churchyard is maintained and funded by Eccleshall Parish Church Council, the work of these volunteers who mow, tend and care for the churchyard is greatly appreciated by the church, but also by the wider community generally. Perhaps you would like to help this team of people from time to time? The times of their sessions are set out in the churchyard porch; or else you could contact the vicar or a churchwarden (please see phone numbers at the back of Trinity magazine).  We are also grateful to you for helping to keep the churchyard tidy and in good order in any way you can (including using the bins provided) so that all may benefit from its peace and beauty.

A prayer for the bereaved

Lord, thank you for the peace and beauty of the churchyard.

Help us to seek you and find you there.

Guide and bless all who are bereaved;

may Christ, who trod this earth before us

and who died and rose again,

be alongside them in the sharpness of their loss.  Amen.

The vicar and churchwardens