…until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken;
you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
(Genesis 3:19)
…in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(the committal prayer in the funeral service)
At St Michael’s, we have a large churchyard which is still open for burials and for the burial of ashes. It is a very beautiful, peaceful resting place for the mortal remains of our loved ones, with the Church building at its heart. It is…
…sacred. It is land which has been set aside and blessed for holy use. Here we can remember our loved ones, enjoy the beauty of nature, feel closer to God, and be reminded of the hope of eternal life.
…shared. The land is owned by the Church for the benefit of everyone, so it is a shared space. (No grave is owned by an individual family – it always remains part of the shared space, rather than being a private memorial garden.) Like with any shared space, there is a list of rules to make sure that the needs of all users are respected, and that what happens here is safe and fair for everyone (see below).
…sustainable. In keeping with our desire to care for God’s creation, everything in the churchyard (except headstones, benches, and some limited temporary items) must be living (i.e. not plastic or artificial).
Please refer to the following pages for information about: