Judgments on Grave Space Reservations

Tipton Ocker Hill St Mark - June 2022

The Deputy Chancellor granted a faculty for the reservation of a grave space for 20 years, rather than for the customary 50 years. In view of the number of spaces available and the rate of interments, the graveyard could be full and closed before a longer reservation would need to be exercised. The Chancellor gave the petitioner leave to apply for an extension of the period of 20 years within six months of its expiry.

Brownhills St James - February 2020

A petition to reserve a grave space in a churchyard where there is capacity for a further six years' worth of burials. The Chancellor considered the risk of prejudicing the right of parishioners who would be entitled to be buried in the churchyard and the Parochial Church Council's policy. The Chancellor further considered that the plot to be reserved was for the establishment of a family grave; the resolution of the concerns surrounding the installation of a grave marker and the possibility that other spaces may have been reserved. The faculty was granted. 

Ashley St John the Baptist - January 2020

A petition to reserve a grave space in a churchyard where there is capacity for a further seven years' worth of burials. The Chancellor further considered the risk of prejudicing the right of parishioners who would be entitled to be buried in the churchyard. The petition was refused. 

Wombourne St Benedict Biscop - March 2019

Reservation of two remaining spaces within a family vault. Petition dismissed.

Walsall Wood St John - July 2015

Reservation of grave space when PCC are operating on a next available plot basis. Petition refused.

Barlaston St John the Baptist - December 2017

Petition to reserve a grave space when parish have passed a resolution to no longer support such petitions. Consideration is given to petitioner's attachment to the churchyard and the parish's reasons for passing the resolution. Faculty petition refused.

Blithfield St Leonard - October 2014

A petition was submitted for the reservation of a grave space, in a churchyard where there has been a long-standing churchyard policy that does not support grave space reservations being made. The faculty was refused as it was felt by the Chancellor that it would be unjust to others who have accepted the position set-out in the policy, who might otherwise have wished to reserve a space too.

Page last updated: Wednesday 5th October 2022 1:37 PM
Powered by Church Edit