Dalston Churchyard and Cemetery

The Parish Council has operated the cemetery since 1894 when the responsibility was transferred under the Local Government Act from the Parish Vestry. It is maintained to the Parish Council’s recommended standards and the grass is mown regularly in the growing season. All graves and burials are registered, the records being kept in perpetuity. They are available for inspection at the Council Offices by arrangement.

Each grave is excavated for one burial unless otherwise requested. Extra depth allows for two burials per grave. The ‘Right of Burial’, which makes the grave private, is sold for a 100 year term.

The memorials, which can be placed on graves, are as follows. The purchased lawn grave memorial, including stone vases, can be in any natural stone and cannot exceed 3’6” height, 3’0” width and 1’6” in depth. Aluminium vases can be placed in the base section. Kerbstones or memorials, which cover the full grave, cannot be placed. Each memorial requires the ward, section and space numbers/letter to be inscribed on the bottom left hand corner. The size and type of headstone or memorial stone and inscriptions must receive the approval of the Parish Council before erection or placement. The Parish Council retains the right to remove any additional objects other than the headstone or memorial stone. The memorial is the responsibility of the grave owner. This includes the safe erection, and long term maintenance of the memorial. The Council is not responsible for vandalism or criminal damage to the memorial. Should a memorial become unsafe, the Parish Council retains the right to take appropriate action. See also cremated remains graves.

The Parish Council do not maintain a chapel in which to hold services. Consequently the funeral service is usually held at a local church, or elsewhere, prior to arrival at the cemetery. A short ‘committal’ service may take place at the graveside. This can be religious or secular, although some choose not to have a service at all. The service can be taken by anybody and a minister does not have to be used.

The majority of people use a funeral director to organise a funeral ‘package’ on their behalf. However it is possible to undertake an independent funeral providing the correct procedures and documentation are adhered to.

Funeral costs vary according to individual requirements. If you are on benefits, you may be entitled to Social Fund assistance although this is increasingly more difficult. No other financial assistance is available and there is increasing evidence of hardship over the payment of funeral costs.

You can view current fees here.

Children's Funeral Fund

The Children's Funeral Fund for England (CFF) means that bereaved parents, guardians or carers will no longer pay the fees charged for a cremation of burial of a child under 18, or certain associated expenses.

Fees and expenses will be met instead by government funding with providers (burial/cremation authorities and funeral directors), in the main, claiming from the CFF the fees and expenses they would have otherwise charged to families.

For further information, please read the Stakeholder Briefing document which can be downloaded here.

The cemetery is a community service, for the benefit of those living in the Parish of Dalston. As the cemetery operates at a deficit, each parishioner contributes to the losses through the Parish rate. In view of this, non parishioners may be accepted for burial, but are required to pay a supplement to the burial fees.