Church and Churchyard

The incumbent of the benefice (the rector or the vicar) owns the church and churchyard but the churchwardens have joint right with him to possession of it. It is the duty of the PCC to maintain and insure it. A faculty may be necessary before work is done.

The incumbent of the benefice (the rector or the vicar) owns the church and churchyard but the churchwardens have joint right with him to possession of it.  It is the duty of the PCC to maintain and insure it. A faculty may be necessary before work is done.

There should be a scale plan for every churchyard or burial ground which is open for burials and on that plan should be marked the position of all burials.  With each church, there should be burial register and in that register can be added the plot number from the plan.  It is important to know where burials have taken place as there can be mix ups where a headstone is erected on the wrong grave.  This is especially so if there is a long delay between the burial and the erection of the headstone.

It is possible for a person to reserve a particular burial space but only by obtaining a faculty. Click here for more information. The PCC should appoint a health and safety officer to be responsible for the church and churchyard. The Ecclesiastical Insurance Group provides helpful guidance notes.

For guidance notes for Churches on Fire, Security, Health & Safety please contact the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, Beaufort House, Brunswick Road, Gloucester, GL1 1JZ

Click here for the next section on Contents of the Church.

Please click on any of the following links below for further information:

• Churchwarden's Qualifications
• Disqualifications
• Length of Service and Election
• Meeting of Parishioners
• Minister's Veto
• Admission
• Vacation of Office
• Parochial Church Council
• Members and Officers of the Parochial Church Council
• General Provision relating to Parochial Church Councils
• Church Electoral Roll
• Annual Parochial Church meeting
• Functions of the PCC
• Land and other property
• Church and Churchyard
• Contents of the Church
• Insurance
• Food and Drink
• Employees
• Church Records
• Terrier, Inventory and Log Book
• Inspection and Reporting
• What to do before your Parish Priest leaves
• How the new Parish Priest is chosen
• Suspension of Presentation
• Running the Church during the vacancy
• Sources

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