MEMORIALS
Memorials in Churchyards
Memorial Application Forms
Diocesan Churchyards Regulations
Testing Memorials in Churchyards
Memorials Inside Churches
Memorials in Churchyards
There is no legal right to place a memorial in a churchyard. Permission must be obtained from the Chancellor of the Diocese, acting on behalf of the Bishop. The normal method of applying for permission for a memorial would be to apply for a Faculty (see Faculty Jurisdiction). However, this is rarely necessary, because (a) the Chancellor has given authority to the clergy, through the Diocesan Churchyards Regulations, to allow memorials which fall within the guidelines set out in the Regulations, and (b) for cases falling outside the Regulations, there has for many years been in the Diocese of Liverpool an informal procedure for applying to the Chancellor for permission to introduce a memorial into a churchyard.
Memorial Application Forms
The informal procedure for applying for approval of a memorial involves the completion of a special memorial application form.
Memorial Application Form in Word format
Upon receipt of an application form, the Registrar will normally send a copy of the form to the Archdeacon and request his advice to the Chancellor, before submitting the application to the Chancellor for consideration. In due course the Chancellor’s decision will be communicated to the applicant or the stonemason.
Applicants are advised to consult their local Minister before visiting the stonemason and choosing a memorial, so that the Minister can advise as to which types of memorial are appropriate to a particular churchyard, and which can be authorised by the Minister. The Minister can also advise on inscriptions. The guidelines are contained in Chapter 4 of the Churchyards Handbook (4th Ed.)
No fees are payable to the Diocesan Registry when an application for approval of a memorial is made using the memorial application form supplied to the clergy. Fees will only be payable if the Chancellor decides in a particular case that the appropriate method of application should be by way of Petition for a Faculty, for example, in a case where the design of a proposed memorial is such that the Chancellor feels that he needs the advice of the Diocesan Advisory Committee, or if the proposed design is likely to be contentious.
Testing of Churchyard Memorials
Attached are some Notes for Guidance for PCCs wishing to topple-test and repair memorials which appear to be unsafe.
Memorials inside Churches
As a general rule, the erection of memorials inside churches is not normally permitted. Anyone wishing to erect a memorial inside a church must apply for a Faculty, and must satisfy the Chancellor that a departure from the normal rule is justifiable, for example, because the person to be commemorated was a major benefactor of the church, or made some major contribution to the church or parish, or was an important local or national figure, etc.