St. Mary's Woodchester Church

Churchyard and Grave Regulations

The following information is to help and guide you if you wish to erect a memorial for a grave in the graveyard - either for interment of remains or interment of ashes; or for any other type of memorial.

Being under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Gloucester the Churchyard at St.Mary’s is governed by strict ecclesiastical regulations, particular relating to graves, headstones and other memorials including benches. The regulations also cover all parts of the graveyard including boundaries, walls and trees.

A short summary of the regulations particularly relating to burial of remains or ashes, grave plots and memorials can be found in this document:

Please note that the regulations set out in the above document are only a brief summary and as such are not definitive.

A more detailed set of principal regulations is available in the Diocesan (DAC) Regulations Document, 2020.

These regulations are the key governing rules that must be followed concerning graves, headstones, memorials and all aspects of the graveyard. If in doubt this Diocesan document should be consulted first.

For further information on these regulations and gaining relevant permissions to inter remains/ashes and/or erect memorials please contact initially:


Or speak to one of the church wardens:

St. Mary's Woodchester graves and benches