1 Introduction

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Mary's Church, Bawdsey, have created a “Memorial Garden” for Cremated Remains (Ashes), as a memorial to our dearly departed Churchwarden, Eddie Bull.

This Guide documents the various rules and guidelines that are necessary in order to preserve the visual appearance of the Garden. It is for the guidance of Funeral Directors, Monumental Masons and relatives and friends of those wishing to inter Caskets of Ashes within the Memorial Garden. Please note, these rules are all decreed by the Diocese and are either standard Churchyard Rules, which can be found in the Diocesan Churchyard Handbook, or are special restrictions imposed by the Faculty authorising the creation of the Memorial Garden. For example, the Diocesan Churchyard Handbook specifies the types of stone that can be used and the Faculty imposes the mandate on a uniform stone size.

2 Requests

All requests for internment in the Ashes Area, as in the main Churchyard, should be made to the local Vicar. The Vicar will organise the times and dates for interment. In due course the Vicar will also have to agree the wording on the Memorial Stone.

3 Burial Plots

The Ashes Memorial Garden is designed to accommodate 3 rows of 24 plots (Total 72). The diagram overleaf shows the completed Garden when all 72 Memorial Stones are in place.

The basic procedure for preparing for an interment is; push aside slate chippings, cut membrane to allow burial of casket and dig out to required depth. Following interment the earth and membrane are replaced. The Memorial Stone (see section 4) is then fixed in place with the top surface flush with existing stones. The slate chippings are then levelled, leaving the stone slightly proud.

4 Memorial Stones

Any buried Ashes can only be marked with a Memorial Stone. These rectangular stones will be laid out according to the grid shown overleaf. Each stone should conform to the following:

  • Material - Of any permitted Churchyard stone (Monumental Masons can advise on these.) However, White Limestone is not permitted because the stones are relatively small and are laid horizontally. In these conditions White Limestone would become too damp and would discolour.
  • Size - True rectangles exactly 23 centimetres by 15 centimetres (This is approximately 9 inches by 6 inches but the metric figure should be used) and of suitable thickness so that the stone can be fixed with it upper surface flush with existing stones.
  • Inscriptions - Font size and number of lines of text is at the choice of relative / stonemason. Text should be inscribed on the Stone in “landscape” orientation (as is the diagram overleaf) so it can be read from the long front wall of the Garden. The actual wording needs to be agreed with the Vicar.

5 Flowers

No pots, flowers, wreaths or plants are allowed within the walled Memorial Garden. However, wreaths and cut flowers can be laid up against the front wall of the Memorial Garden.

Plan of Memorial Garden