Funerals
Funeral Policy
If you have recently been bereaved, please accept our condolences.
It is possible to hold a funeral service or memorial service in one of our churches for anyone who has an association with the area. However sadly this does not mean that the person who died can be buried or have their ashes buried in one of the parish graveyards.
The Funeral Service
The service with burial or cremation will be according to the Church of England funeral service. There will be a bible reading, and the minister will say some words about the passage. There will also be space for eulogies, music and readings that are not from the bible.
The Memorial Service
It is also possible to hold a memorial service to celebrate and give thanks for the life of the one who has died. They are usually held some time after the funeral. There are no strict guidelines for this, other than the officiating minister’s discretion on the appropriateness of the content, and the service will include a bible reading and promises made by God that we have salvation and the hope of heaven because of the sacrifice, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.
Burial in one of our graveyards
To be buried, or to have their ashes buried, in one of the open parish graveyards (at Norton, Overy and Thorpe), the deceased
will have had their main and permanent residence in the parish at the time of death (see note 1)
or
will have been on the electoral roll of a church in our benefice, and have been a regular worshiper, at the time of death
or
will have a very close family member buried in the churchyard (husband, wife, civil partner, child, sibling, parent) and there is space alongside them.
Burials in the graveyard are allowed when a long-term resident has had to move, because of infirmity, from their residence here to a nursing home (see note 2).
Churchyards and Memorial Stones or Plaques
Headstones and crosses for burial plots, and plaques for interred ashes sites are strictly governed by the Churchyard Regulations for the Diocese of Norwich, which are set as ecclesiastical by-laws by the diocesan chancellor, a high court judge. Please note that memorials are not permitted until six months after the funeral; they are not to be erected without the permission of the rector. A monumental stonemason will normally help with the application process. For your convenience, the regulations can be found by clicking on this link: http://staff.diocesan.co.uk/documents/diocese%20of%20norwich%20churchyard%20regulations%20-%20february%202016.pdf
Please note paragraph 10.4 of these regulations, which refers to inscriptions; if in doubt, please contact the vicar directly for advice.
We work closely with our local funeral directors, Sutton's Funeral Directors of Wells-next-the-Sea, and you may find it helpful to speak with them.
Their phone number is: 01328 710301.
Notes
This does not include holiday homes or lets - unless, of course, the deceased died in this location. Proof of the deceased’s permanency - that is, main residency - in this community will be required (eg, an entry on the local civic roll of electors). Personnel involved in one of the national services (Armed Forces, Police, FCDO etc) whose residency would be here if not for the exigencies of that service, are also considered.
This does not include anyone who has moved away prior to their residency in a nursing (or suchlike) home.