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St. Giles The Abbot: 

The Garden of Remembrance

Garden Photo 1996

        In 1956, when cremation started to become an acceptable alternative to interment, it was decided at St. Giles to provide a walled rose garden where ashes could be scattered and small metal plaques inserted into the ground. There were also facilities for placing stone engraved slabs on the wall. Regulations came in which forbade the scattering of ashes and from this developed the need to have ashes buried. So, in 1978, the lawn was laid and the two side walls built with stone plaques fixed to them. In 1990, when the walls were fully covered with plaques, it was decided to front the lawn with a pathway where more plaques could be laid.

Garden Photo 1998

        Cremations increased in popularity and in 1998, when all the space on the two paths had been occupied, arrangements were made with Francis Chappell & Sons to build a ‘Wall of Remembrance’ where more stone plaques could be secured. The wall also afforded a screen to the chain-linked boundary fence which was somewhat unsightly. (see photographs above)

        There is a plan of the lawn on which each burial of ashes is recorded. The upkeep of the Garden of Remembrance is carried out by a group of voluntary workers, usually every Tuesday morning, who remove dead flowers, dead leaves, weeds and other unwanted materials. There are specific regulations, laid down by the Diocese, as to what floral arrangements are permitted, similar to those for the whole of the churchyard and receptacles are provided nearby for refuse. There is a paved area in the centre of the lawn on which are two bench seats for people to sit quietly.

        If you are researching your family history or have other reasons for tracing a record of someone’s interment of cremated remains, we are pleased to include on this website a Consolidated Alphabetical Index from November 1956 to May 1998. Further records in this format are in course of preparation.

        Meanwhile click here for a list of deaths from the beginning of this year.

        If you would like further information and/or wish to inspect the actual record in the Grave Registers you may make an appointment to visit the Church — preferably on a Tuesday morning, or if a visit is not possible, a typed copy of the record can be e-mailed to you. Please give your name, your e-mail address and the particular name of the person you are searching for.

        Your contact for this service is Peter Bailey (peterbailey39@tiscali.co.uk).

        We welcome all enquiries from those wishing to explore the possibility of the interment of cremated remains in the Garden of Remembrance. 

        You may download any part of this website. There is, of course, no charge for this, but you are very welcome to make a donation. If so, please make cheques payable to St. Giles PCC and forward them to the Parish Office. Thank you in advance for your generosity. 

Record of Cremated Remains

* This is available in PDF format, and you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader for this. You can download it for free by clicking this logo

Remembering Loved Ones

Following completion of Phase 3 of the Memorial Garden Wall there is now the continued opportunity to remember, with a Memorial Plaque, those whose ashes are buried anywhere within the churchyard.

The Plaques measure approximately 250mm wide x 150mm (10 x 6 inches) and there is a standard charge for the making of the Plaque, incising lettering up to 55 characters and mounting on the wall.  More characters may be incised for an extra charge.  All proceeds go to the Churchyard Maintenance Fund and thus help to preserve the beauty of the area.

Interested persons should apply to the Parish Office for a 'Preliminary Application Form WP2', completion of which will not commit them in any way.

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