Garden of Remembrance Guidelines
The Garden of Remembrance guidelines can be downloaded below.
| garden_of_remembrance_guidelines.pdf |
St John the Baptist Garden of
Remembrance
We are glad that you have chosen to place the remains of your loved one in our memorial garden. Our church and churchyard are situated on what is believed to be a Roman burial ground, and so are sacred to the memory of generations of local people. Our prayer is that you will sense the peace of God’s eternity here. Your funeral director will arrange for the grave to be prepared and please inform them if you wish a deeper grave to be dug for future use.
The permission we hold to inter ashes today is subject to a number of regulations which apply to all churchyards across the Diocese of Winchester. These include the size and colour of the stones, and what may be inscribed on them, as set out below. We advise against ordering stones online and recommend two local stonemasonry businesses who will provide what is required:
Blackwell and Moody: [email protected] tel:01962 852476
Vokes and Beck: [email protected] tel:01962 884455
Guidelines for memorial stones
Materials and Colour
● Limestone (such as Portland, Purbeck, Derbyshire, York, Hopton, Nabresina, French, Portuguese)
● Slate (Light Grey, Blue/Black, Green)
● Granite (Blue, Rustenburg (Charcoal), Grey), as long as it has a matt, or honed, rather than a polished finish.
Size
30cm by 30cm by 5cm.
Inscriptions
The following may be included:
● The deceased’s name and dates of birth and death. If the plot is to be used for a second internment of ashes, space should be left on the stone for additional name and dates.
● A scriptural text, an extract from a poem or other suitable phrase. These should be simple, reverent, in harmony with the doctrine of the Church of England and must be agreed with a member of St John’s clergy in advance.
● A badge or insignia from the armed forces (with written permission from the regiment or other body).
● A small (i.e. in the region of 10 cm (4”) x 10 cm (4”)), well carved engraving either uncoloured or painted in sensitive colours, depicting some item of particular relevance to the deceased. Clergy are not permitted to allow inappropriate designs.
Style
● Inscriptions should be set out in plain carved lettering or lettering painted black, white, cream, grey or gold.
Tending the grave
You are welcome to plant bulbs next to your memorial stone and to leave fresh flowers with plastic wrappings and bows removed, or flowers made of silk. Please dispose of them when they have faded or died. Flowers from infrequently visited graves will be removed when they have died. Ornaments or other objects may not be left.
St John’s Churchyard
In keeping with many others, our churchyard is managed by volunteers and is kept as a wild flower meadow to enable local flora and fauna to flourish. We welcome offers of help.
Acts of remembrance for the departed
We invite you to add the name of your loved one in our memorial book in calligraphy, and, as part of our regular prayer, we will read aloud their name on or near the anniversary of their death. Please enquire about an application form. The cost is £15.
Usually in early November, near Remembrancetide, we hold a short reflective service for everyone mourning the loss of a loved one. We will be glad to keep you informed of these.
May God bless you and all those whom you love, in this world and the next.
Contact: [email protected]
[email protected]
We are glad that you have chosen to place the remains of your loved one in our memorial garden. Our church and churchyard are situated on what is believed to be a Roman burial ground, and so are sacred to the memory of generations of local people. Our prayer is that you will sense the peace of God’s eternity here. Your funeral director will arrange for the grave to be prepared and please inform them if you wish a deeper grave to be dug for future use.
The permission we hold to inter ashes today is subject to a number of regulations which apply to all churchyards across the Diocese of Winchester. These include the size and colour of the stones, and what may be inscribed on them, as set out below. We advise against ordering stones online and recommend two local stonemasonry businesses who will provide what is required:
Blackwell and Moody: [email protected] tel:01962 852476
Vokes and Beck: [email protected] tel:01962 884455
Guidelines for memorial stones
Materials and Colour
● Limestone (such as Portland, Purbeck, Derbyshire, York, Hopton, Nabresina, French, Portuguese)
● Slate (Light Grey, Blue/Black, Green)
● Granite (Blue, Rustenburg (Charcoal), Grey), as long as it has a matt, or honed, rather than a polished finish.
Size
30cm by 30cm by 5cm.
Inscriptions
The following may be included:
● The deceased’s name and dates of birth and death. If the plot is to be used for a second internment of ashes, space should be left on the stone for additional name and dates.
● A scriptural text, an extract from a poem or other suitable phrase. These should be simple, reverent, in harmony with the doctrine of the Church of England and must be agreed with a member of St John’s clergy in advance.
● A badge or insignia from the armed forces (with written permission from the regiment or other body).
● A small (i.e. in the region of 10 cm (4”) x 10 cm (4”)), well carved engraving either uncoloured or painted in sensitive colours, depicting some item of particular relevance to the deceased. Clergy are not permitted to allow inappropriate designs.
Style
● Inscriptions should be set out in plain carved lettering or lettering painted black, white, cream, grey or gold.
Tending the grave
You are welcome to plant bulbs next to your memorial stone and to leave fresh flowers with plastic wrappings and bows removed, or flowers made of silk. Please dispose of them when they have faded or died. Flowers from infrequently visited graves will be removed when they have died. Ornaments or other objects may not be left.
St John’s Churchyard
In keeping with many others, our churchyard is managed by volunteers and is kept as a wild flower meadow to enable local flora and fauna to flourish. We welcome offers of help.
Acts of remembrance for the departed
We invite you to add the name of your loved one in our memorial book in calligraphy, and, as part of our regular prayer, we will read aloud their name on or near the anniversary of their death. Please enquire about an application form. The cost is £15.
Usually in early November, near Remembrancetide, we hold a short reflective service for everyone mourning the loss of a loved one. We will be glad to keep you informed of these.
May God bless you and all those whom you love, in this world and the next.
Contact: [email protected]
[email protected]
