Churchyard Enquiries

We get lots of enquiries relating to the Churchyards at St. Mary's and St. Andrews.

*Please note, no work should be carried out on any grave without permission of the grave owners who will in turn inform us of the anticipated works, and we will confirm with them whether any particular permission is required in law. *

Burials

St Mary's Churchyard has been 'closed' for over 20 years. This means that we are only permitted to bury or inter ashes into existing family graves. New burials and internments now take place in Dunmow Town Cemetery, which opened in the the early 2000's and managed by Dunmow Town Council.

For more information about the Dunmow Town Cemetery, please click here

Burials can still take place in the churchyard of St Andrew's, Barnston, for those who were resident in Barnston at the time of death. 

If you would like to arrange for a burial in the churchyard or Town Cemetery, one of our local funeral directors will help. We will work with them to ensure you have every support throughout the process.

Headstones and Memorials

If you would like to add, replace or make changes to a headstone or grave in the Churchyard, it must be approved first by completing a CR1 Application. You can contact a stonemason or funeral director who will be happy to help you fill out the form.

There are regulations governing all churchyards which includes memorials and maintenance. For the full churchyard regulations please see this handbook from Chelmsford Diocese. 

Headstones and Memorials, however old, are all the legal private property of someone. Cleaning and maintenance of gravestones should only be carried out when the legal owner has given permission. Anyone is able to clean graves if they have permission from the legal owner. Advice on historic monument upkeep should be followed. Older memorials in particular must be maintained safely so they can be in place for years to come. Historic England and others have significant advice on this. As a courtesy our church office should be advised ahead of works. Additional permissions are required in law for specific works and local funeral directors / stone masons are always happy to advise on this as is our church office.