In the light of an article in the July 07 (church) magazine it may be helpful to be aware of some of the rules which apply to churchyards such as we have at St. John's (and they have at St. Oswald's, Methley).

There are standard rules across the nation which the vast majority of people adhere to but there are infringements from time to time, so the more of us know the rules, the better, and clearer, for all.

Headstones for graves must be of Yorkshire stone, not larger than 48" high, 36" wide, and 6" thick (1219mm x 914mm x 152mm). The headstone should be embedded in the ground to a sufficient depth to ensure stability. Raised kerbs, railings, paving, pebbles, plain or coloured chippings, statues, etched or sculptured figures, photographs, cameos, etc., are not permitted. A flower container may be set in the ground at the head of a grave or in the foundation stone. It must be made of unpolished aluminium and it must be removable. Granite, marble, synthetic stone or plastic, are not permitted.

Lettering on headstones must be incised, and not filled, and may be tinted a tone lighter or darker than the natural colour of the stone, but not in gold. Stonemasons are required to submit a sketch of a proposed stone and wording, together with an application form, to the priest, before a stone can be placed in the churchyard. It is generally recommended for a stone to be installed at least six months after a burial (or longer) as this allows the ground to settle and the stone is less likely to work itself loose. Some older stones which were loose and leaning have been deliberately pulled down to avoid accidents (such as happened a few years ago in Harrogate when a two-year old girl was killed as a result).

Cremated remains must be interred either in an existing grave or in the section of the churchyard designated for the purpose. A small stone, not exceeding 18"x 12" (457mm x 304mm) is allowed, and must lie flush with the ground. As with graves, coloured chippings or pebbles are not permitted. Flowers, in a suitable vase, may be placed on the stone.

Upkeep of the churchyard is the responsibility of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) but to enable the grass to be easily mown, it is not permitted to plant bulbs, plants or trees on the graves, and the PCC reserves the right to remove these where they are a hindrance to the upkeep of the churchyard.

In the new section of graves on the south side of St. John's about a dozen graves contravene these rules to some extent and we will try, where possible, to contact the families concerned to alert them to, and remind them of, their responsibilities. In the older section of the churchyard (on the north side closest to Rothwell Lane) there are clearly many graves which contravene these rules, for example, by having kerbs. If kerbs or posts or any stones are loose, then officers of the church may have to remove them as a matter of safety.