Who pays for the upkeep of cemeteries?

19th July 2022
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When a loved one passes away, families want to keep their final resting place in fantastic condition. This means maintaining the selected plot and ensuring it remains clean and beautiful. Cemetery or Churchyard upkeep can include many facets, including cleaning the grave, replacing flowers, and repairing or replacing a damaged headstone. 

But who is responsible for this upkeep? The answer is not as straightforward as many people initially believe. Often, it involves multiple parties and can depend on the regulations surrounding the plot and general services offered by burial ground.

Difference between a Cemetery or Churchyard?

There are common misunderstandings in the difference between a cemetery or Churchyard. People often make the easy mistake to think they are both the same thing. 

A cemetery is owned typically by a local authority; a parish council or a larger council authority. However, it can sometimes be owned by a private company. In a cemetery, in the majority of instances, you can buy the Exclusive Right of Burial which means you can own the grave. 

A Churchyard is owned by the Church Diocese. You cannot own the Exclusive Right of Burial, it is retained by the Church. Permission to be laid to rest there is down to the Churches discretion and in most cases you have to have a link to the Church in some way to be allowed to be laid to rest there.

When Churchyards are full, they close to new burials/interments. In this instance the responsibility to look after the Churchyard will be taken over by the local authority or council, but the Church council would still make sure the Churchyard is in good order with regard to it’s fences and walls.   

What is grave tending?

Grave tending is a practice in which a family, council or professional service looks after the grave. This service involves both plots for cremated remains, often referred to as ‘ashes’ following a cremation or a traditional full burial. A grave tidying service involves cutting back overgrown grass or weeds, light cleaning, removing debris, and supplying fresh flowers. A professional service is common for families who may live a distance away, struggle with the physical exertion or simply are too busy to be able to tend to the grave regularly. Local professionals like G. Seller will take on the responsibility to ensure the grave remains in excellent condition ready for their visit, no matter how frequent it may be.

Who is responsible for cemetery upkeep?

Cemetery and Churchyard upkeep is crucial for many families, and demonstrates the much-needed respect for their deceased loved one. Because of this, parties need to work together to help maintain the plot by keeping it clean and ensuring no damage occurs.

The family

In a cemetery, the person who owns the grave (Exclusive Right of Burial deed) will have the responsibility to make sure the memorial is looked after. They are expected to remove any flowers that have gone mouldy, make sure the memorial is fixed safely and in some cemeteries making sure no trinkets or ornaments are not left broken or obstructing the cemetery groundsman from mowing the grass.

However, many cemeteries have varying rules and regulations regarding what families can and cannot do. As the family is only responsible for the specific plot, they cannot encroach on surrounding graves. Despite this, they may be able to decorate the entire grave area however they please. If the deceased was buried in a public grave, the rules are restricted even further. 

In a Churchyard it is very similar to a cemetery, where the family are expected to make sure the memorial is looked after and remove any flowers that have gone mouldy. In the majority of cases it is forbidden in a Churchyard to have ornaments and trinkets on the grave as the Church ‘do not believe it is in keeping with the Churchyard.’ 

Professional tendering services

A grave maintenance service is also available for families who cannot attend the cemetery or Churchyard as often as they would like. If you select a grave tending service, a local professional company like G. Seller will carry out care and maintenance on the grave. The scope of their service often varies depending on the package you choose. Some packages are more comprehensive than others, such as a monthly care service compared to a visit every four months or a singular visit each year.

The local authority

The local authority managing the cemetery is responsible for the safety of the burial ground in terms of all visitors coming into the cemetery. This means their remit is all-encompassing with regard to memorial safety, upkeep of the cemetery, quality of the pathways, fences, trees etc. They will not be responsible for keeping your loved one's headstone in good condition though, only that it is fixed to safety standards and won’t fall over on someone. 

G Seller understands how important it is to keep your loved ones’ resting place in excellent condition. While you can look after the grave site yourself, G. Seller offers a reliable and caring grave tending service that includes a wide range of cleaning and maintenance practices to keep your loved one’s grave and plot in perfect condition so they can rest comfortably. Get in touch with us today for more information.

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