Garden of Remembrance
Narrative supporting Faculty Applications relating to the churchyard of
St Peters Church Pavenham
Faculty 1 – Existing Ashes Plot
It is come to our attention that the current area used for burial of ashes, in use since 1978, actually falls outside the Diocese’s expected and permitted pattern of such things.
Pavenham PCC therefore apply for a Faculty as follows:
1 – That memorials for existing burials which have taken place, to be allowed so as to be in keeping with those already in existence.
2 – To permit further burials to take place in this area, to complete the as yet unfinished rows, and likewise, to allow memorials for them in keeping with those that already exist.
Plan 1 and Photographs 1 show the existing Ashes plot.
The arguments for the above Faculty Application are:
1 – Some 50+ burials have taken place there since 1978, and 33 memorials are in place, so this is a well-established burial area, even if it does fall outside the permitted pattern.
2 – Pastoral Justification – unwittingly or otherwise, burials have taken place here for over 35 years! This has been done in good faith, and is well-understood in the village as “the norm”. To change that or require any alterations to what currently exists will be very difficult to share or manage in such a small community, and could be pastorally disastrous.
3 – Aesthetic Justification – to change significantly the size/shape of any further memorials permitted in this area, should the Faculty Application be granted, would look very odd indeed. (Please see enclosed photographs in support of this point.)
4- The Chancellor kindly issued an interim faculty on 30th November 2023 to allow a memorial stone to be laid for Brian Bottero deceased, whose ashes had been laid to rest before this problem was discovered and where the family was concerned at the delay. We have now received another request which arises in identical circumstances.
Faculty 2 – NEW Ashes Plot/Memorial Garden
We also apply for a NEW Ashes burial area, located in the north east corner of the churchyard, as marked on the enclosed plan 2 and photographs, to cater for future ashes burials as follows:
1 – Plots to accept double depth burials of ashes in caskets.
2 – Plots to be mapped on a Memorial Garden Plan, and burials listed in the Burial Register accordingly.
3 – Memorials in the form of stone tablets to be countersunk into the grass, to allow ease of mowing.
The PCC approved the application on the terms above at a meeting in February 2024.
Form 4A
(Rule 6.2)
Public Notice
(general form)
In the Consistory Court of the Diocese of St Albans
In the parish of Pavenham
Church of Pavenham, St Peter
NOTICE IS GIVEN that we are applying to the Consistory Court of the diocese
for permission to carry out the following:
(Describe the works or other proposals in the same way as in the faculty petition)
In the existing Garden of Remembrance: 1 – To authorise memorials for existing
burials to be permitted so as to be in keeping with those already in existence. 2 –
To permit further burials to take place in this area, to complete the as yet
unfinished rows, and likewise, to allow memorials for them in keeping with
those that already exist.
Copies of the relevant plans and documents may be examined at St Peter's
Church, Pavenham and on a publicly accessible website at www.mptchurches.
org.uk
(If changes to a church are proposed, a copy of the petition and of any designs,
plans, photographs and other documents that were submitted with it must be
displayed in the church or at another place where they may be conveniently
inspected by the public. If the petition is submitted through an online system,
those documents must also be publicly available for inspection online.)
Petitioners:
(Each petitioner to give name and office held in block capitals)
1. MR STEPHEN BYATT - PCC TREASURER
2. MRS JULIE DAVIES - PCC MEMBER
3. MR DAVID EVANS - PCC MEMBER
Date 27/09/2026
If you wish to object to any of the works or proposals you should
send a letter or email stating the grounds of your objection to
The Diocesan Registrar at St Albans Diocesan Registry, Winckworth
Sherwood LLP, Arbor, 255 Blackfriars Road, LONDON, SE1 9AX or by email
to stalbansregistry@wslaw.co.uk
so that your letter reaches the registrar not later than Tuesday 27
October 2026 A letter of objection must include your name and
address and state whether you live in the parish and/or your
name is entered on the church electoral roll of the parish or any
other basis on which you have an interest in the matter.
- The Vicarage
- Thurleigh Road
- Milton Ernest
- Bedford
- MK44 1RF