These rules are an excerpt from the Diocesan guidelines. They are the minimum requirements. Requirements, in any given Churchyard, may be stricter than these.

PERMISSION FOR MEMORIALS ON GRAVES

The erection of a memorial is a privilege, not a right. The ultimate authority is that of the Chancellor of the Diocese, exercised in the Consistory Court upon an application for a faculty. He has the power to allow by faculty any kind of gravestone or other memorial in a churchyard.

Faculty application forms can be obtained from the Diocesan Registry. Statutory fees are payable. A limited authority, however, is delegated by the Chancellor to the incumbent to give permission for memorials provided that in size, design and material they fall within the category of what is normally recognised as suitable. Permission must be given in writing. The requirements are as follows:-

1 Materials The memorial must be in one of the following materials:-

a English limestone or pennant stone; or

b unpolished grey granite; or

c Nabresina (Roman stone); or

d English oak; or

e English or Welsh slate.

2 Form The memorial must consist of:-

a a headstone not more than 4' (120 cm) high; or

b a cross not more than 4'6" (135 cm) high; or

c a horizontal slab sunk so that the surface of the same is sufficiently flush with the surrounding earth to allow a mower or autoscythe to pass over it.

3 Advertisements or trademarks No identification of the maker or supplier must appear on the memorial other than the name only of the craftsman or designer in letters not more than half an inch (13 mm) high.

4 Base Any base upon which a headstone (or other memorial) is fixed for stability must be sunk low enough into the ground to allow a mower or autoscythe to pass over it.

5 Spacing Headstones must be placed conveniently for the churchyard mower to pass around them.

6 Additional features A memorial shall not include any photograph, metal or plastic inserts, railings, chippings, statuary, bird baths or other artefacts.

Only memorials which conform to these requirements can be permitted under the powers delegated to the incumbent.

APPLICATIONS FOR MEMORIALS

An application to the incumbent must be made by letter or using the form “Application to introduce a Memorial into a Churchyard” obtainable from the PCC, the Registry (tel 01749 674747) or DAC Office (0117 9060100). The design must be submitted for the incumbent's approval before any order is given to a stonemason. Information provided must include: the inscription (properly set out); the style of lettering; full particulars of the materials; the dimensions; and details of the proposed foundation work. No further steps may be taken before approval is received in writing.