New churchyard regulations

There are some new churchyard regulations which take effect on Monday 23 June 2025, which have been written by our Diocesan Chancellor. These regulations take the form of a new national template being adopted across all dioceses in England. It’s hoped that they’ll provide more uniformity across the country, in terms of what is and what is not permitted as a memorial in a churchyard. Each diocesan Chancellor has adapted the national template to suit local circumstance.

Any application for a headstone in a churchyard received on or after June 23 must comply with these new regulations (otherwise a private faculty will be required) and must be submitted to the relevant member of clergy on the new application form. Copies of the relevant documents are here:

CHURCHYARDS AND CHURCHYARD MEMORIALS: an interpretation by the Diocesan Chancellor of the national churchyard regulations (revised: June 2025)

• General provisions for churchyard memorials
• Application Form
• Handbook for the Bereaved