Cemetery Notice

Formal Notice of Intended Works in St Mary’s Cemetery, Euxton

Parishioners will be aware that renovation and repair work within the Cemetery has been planned for some time. Formal notice is now being given of the intention to start this work, with the following implications:

1. The work to be undertaken will make safe any memorial stone that poses a Health and Safety risk - this may include the complete removal of the memorial stone if it is deemed to be impractical or uneconomic to repair.

2. Only headstones are now permitted as Memorials within St Mary’s Cemetery, therefore any other memorial (eg kerbstones or free-standing vases that cannot be placed on the headstone plinth) or any other memorabilia (including plants) needs to be removed in accordance with Archdiocesan policy. All memorial stones and memorabilia are the property (and responsibility) of individual “Plot Owners” - notice is hereby given to individual “Plot Owners” that they have 45 days from the date of this Notice to remove any non-permitted memorial otherwise the said non-permitted memorial will be removed as part of the general works taking place in the Cemetery, and disposed of (unless the individual “Plot Owner” makes a written request to the Parish Office to take possession of the non-permitted memorial on its removal). In the case of kerbstones, every effort will be made to re-model these and place some part of these stones at the head of the grave plot – particularly if individuals are commemorated on these stones. No grave that currently has a stone commemorative memorial will be left without a memorial at the head of the plot following these works.

3. Registered “Plot Owners” will be notified in writing of any intended work on their plot(s). In order to be a registered Plot Owner you must be in possession of a “new” Grave Deed – if you are a Plot Owner (ie you own the right of burial in a particular cemetery plot) and you have not yet obtained a new Grave Deed, you are advised to obtain one! The application form may be obtained by applying to the Parish Office or by downloading an the form from the website here. It is important for us to be clear about this – you will not receive a specific notice of required / intended works on your plot unless you are in possession of a “new” Grave Deed.

4. It will be necessary to restrict access to the Cemetery during these works.

5. Following the completion of the above works on the memorial stones the Cemetery area will be levelled and re-turfed – thereafter no item will be permitted to be placed between the rows of headstones, and any such may be removed without notice.

Parishioners should be aware that Plot Holders retain ownership of, and responsibility for, memorials on their plot. In normal circumstances the plot holder would be responsible for the cost of repair and maintenance of their memorial, but in this situation where significant work is taking place across the cemetery (including the removal of kerbstones) the Parish will bear the cost of the work.

Copies of the Cemetery Rules are available here.

This Notice is also being published in the local press, but Parishioners are encouraged to pass this information on to anyone who might be affected by these works who may not otherwise see these Notices.

Any person wishing to communicate on this subject should address their comments in writing to:

Parish Office

St Mary’s RC Church

Wigan Road

Euxton

PR7 6JW

or by email to

This Notice is published by the St Mary’s Pastoral Parish Council on 31st March 2007.