Churchyards
The parish Churchyard is a place of history and remembrance and as such is special to people far beyond the immediate church congregation. It is also frequently a rare conservation area, home to diverse species of plants and wildlife. In both cases it deserves our protection.
Many parts of a churchyard can be separately listed, which provides additional heritage protection. This can include tombs and lychgates. Any work to a separately listed structure will require Faculty permission.
For any queries relating to the reservation of a grave space, exhumations, or the closure of a churchyard, please contact the Registry.
Diocesan policy for the re-use of churchyards for burials
Memorials
The parish priest grants permission for memorials that conform to the Churchyard Regulations 2013. If the parish is in vacancy, the Rural Dean can give permission.
Application for memorial conforming to Churchyard Regulations 2013 (Word)
Application for a memorial conforming to Churchyard Regulations 2013 (pdf)
The Archdeacon, with the consent of the Parish Priest and agreement of the Diocesan Advisory Committee, may permit an individually designed and hand-crafted monument which is of artistic merit but which does not conform to these regulations. Applications of this type should be submitted to the Church Buildings Office.
Any other monument must be authorised by Faculty.
Trees
Most work to trees (including planting new ones) requires some kind of permission. You can check whether this falls under List A or B here. Anything not on these lists will require a Faculty.
Paths
Churchyard paths should generally be repaired on a like for like basis, unless there is good reason for changing materials or design (in which case a Faculty will be required). Many churches in the Diocese have historic cobbled paths in their churchyards, which add to the character and setting of the church. These cobbled paths should be retained and repaired wherever possible. Such surfaces are not always compatible with equal access, therefore options for improving access need careful consideration and early consultation with the DAC.
A Historic England and SPAB funded project on Devon churchyard cobbles in 2016 produced a report on the survival of these paths, giving general principles about their maintenance and possible access improvements. The report can be read here and a short video on the subject is available here.
Closed churchyards
Many closed churchyards are now maintained by parish and district councils. The requirement for List B or Faculty permission for certain types of work remains in place – and the approval of the PCC will be required. Click here for a guide to carrying out works in a churchyard closed for further burials, where responsibility for maintaining the churchyard has been transferred.
Wildlife
Churchyards represent a precious resource which can make a huge contribution to the biodiversity of the country and engage and educate the wider community. As wildlife havens they are home to a wide variety of species, and as a result good management is essential. Church Care provide some excellent guidance on caring for the wildlife in your churchyards which can be found here.
The Diocesan Creation Care team provide a range of guidance on living churchyards here. Advice is also available from Caring for God’s Acre, Devon Churches Green Action, and EcoChurch South West.
If your church is taking part in Eco Church, you may find it helpful to read our guide to Eco Church and Faculty Jurisdiction Rules, which covers the permissions needed for various activities in support of Eco Church designation (from refixing slipped slates to planting trees!).
