Burial

PARISH CHURCH OF SAINT PETER, SWALLOWCLIFFE

Rules for Determining Eligibility for Burial in the Churchyard

Agreed by the Parochial Church Council at its meeting on 4th July 2023.

1.     Those who have an absolute right of burial, assuming space is still available:

a)     A resident of the ecclesiastical parish (i.e. a person residing within the boundaries of the ecclesiastical parish of Swallowcliffe – see below).

b)     A person who dies within the ecclesiastical parish.

N.B. Individuals in neither category need be members of any Christian denomination, but includes people of any faith or none.

c)     A non-resident of the ecclesiastical parish whose name is on the Church Electoral Roll of Swallowcliffe at the time of death.

2.     The Parochial church Council will also permit the burial (whether of a body or cremated remains), assuming space is still available, of:

a)     A former resident of the ecclesiastical parish.

b)     A person not having an absolute right of burial (as defined in paragraph 1) for whom interment within an existing family grave is desired, or whose close relative is already interred in the churchyard.

N.B. The term close relative is defined as:
“the spouse, civil partner, parent, child or sibling of the one to be interred”. This will also apply to close relatives of those living but who are themselves entitled to burial under paragraphs 1 & 2.

3.     In relation to paragraphs 2 and 3, and until free spaces have been allocated,

a)     new plots for the burial of coffins will take place from the north and west sides of the churchyard;

b)     new plots for the interment of cremated remains will only be allocated in the current memorial garden below the west end of the church building.

4.     In exceptional cases, deviation from these rules will only be permitted by specific permission of the Parochial Church Council, or its Standing Committee.

5.     The Parochial Church Council has resolved that it will only support applications to Reserve a grave space by Faculty of the Consistory Court of Salisbury, where the applicant is either a resident of the ecclesiastical parish or falls within category 2 (above).

BOUNDARIES OF THE PARISH

The boundaries of the ecclesiastical parish to be used in determination of these Rules are to be as defined by the Diocese of Salisbury at the time an application is considered.