From 19th July 2022 there are no legal limits on the number of people who can attend funerals or commemorative events. Those attending, arranging or managing such events should consider that it may be harder to manage the risk of spreading COVID-19 if spaces are crowded, and churches and other venue operators may choose to set their own limits.
We recognise how difficult this will be for many and add to the pain of a loss, and encourage you to discuss with the vicar, Marcus
The funeral of a loved one acknowledges the closing of a human life on earth. A funeral service is an opportunity for family and friends to gather in a parish church or crematorium to express their grief, give thanks to God and celebrate a life that has completed its journey through this life, and to commend the soul of the departed into God’s eternal keeping.
Please contact Rev Marcus Small in the first instance. He can also give details of the fees, but for guidance the 2024 statutory fees are on the second page of the Church of England table here. Please note that the statutory fees are mandatory, but if you opt to have an organist, or heating, or a verger then the fees for these are additional and our vicar can advise you of these. Note for funeral directors: cheques for the full fees (including the diocesan fees) should be made payable to ‘Almeley PCC’ and given to the Churchwarden at the service, or sent to the Treasurer.
Churchyard and monuments
Churchyards are set apart for the reverent burial of parishioners: those whose names are on the church Electoral Roll and those who die in the Parish. These churchyards are therefore part of our Christian faith and heritage.
The character of the churchyard depends on that of all the memorials within it: no one of those should spoil that general appearance. Churchyards have to be maintained by the parish for centuries to come. This means that memorials should be designed to allow for that maintenance to be as simple as possible.
In order to do that the Diocese of Hereford publishes a set of Regulations as to what is allowed. The current Regulations came into force with effect from 1st July, 2008. A complete version of the Regulations can be found here
Reserving a grave space
If you have a right to be buried in a Parish Churchyard, and always provided that there is sufficient space in the churchyard, it is possible to reserve a grave space. However, the only way to reserve a particular plot for a person’s burial is to obtain a Faculty for that purpose. Faculties are granted in the discretion of the Consistory Court, and good cause must be shown. Further details, guidance notes (including current fees), and application form can be found here.