Churchyard Regulations
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy ancestors have set. Proverbs 22:28
Because of the need to conserve space in St. Mary Anne’s historic churchyard, lots are available only to present and past active members of St. Mary Anne’s Church and their families. Occasional exceptions to this rule are allowed when compelling pastoral circumstances exist. The Rector and Churchyard Chairperson are authorized to make determinations as to who qualifies as being “present and past active members” and what exceptions shall be made.
The price per “opening” (4 ft. x 10 ft.) is $600.00. Lots are sold with perpetual care. Deeds to lots will be issued when the lots are paid in full. It is both permitted and recommended that “double depth interments” (two interments in each opening) be considered. (The Funeral Director should be informed of this intention when the first interment is made.) When an “opening” is used for cremated remains, multiple committals are permitted.
The sale of lots by owners to other parties is not permitted. A lot may be sold back to St. Mary Anne’s Church at the original purchase price.
No burial site may be opened or interment held without the approval of the Rector or the Churchyard Chairperson.
Disinterments may take place may take place only when they are conducted in accordance with Maryland state law. The Churchyard Chairperson or Rector must be informed before a disinterment takes place. A donation of $250 to the Church is required.
In the interest of creating and maintaining an orderly cemetery, monuments, headstones, footstones, flowers and plants may be placed in the Churchyard subject to the following regulations:
- Monuments and tombstones must be granite or marble of a white or gray color. Bronze or aluminum may be used if securely affixed to the ground and flush with the ground.
- Headstones must be placed at the head of the lot facing in an easterly direction and inscriptions must be on the side of the stone facing the grave, except the family name only may be placed on the opposite face of the stone in addition to the side facing the grave.
- No headstone or markers of any kind may be more than four feet in height. Exceptions may be proposed to the vestry for possible approval.
- Footstones, if used, must be placed so that the top of the stone is at ground level.
- Four stones must be placed to mark the four corners of the lot. The stones must be a minimum of six inches square and set so that the top of the stone is flush with the ground. The name or initial must be cut in the top of the stone. Corner markers must be placed within six months of purchase of the lot. It is the responsibility of the lot purchaser to purchase and make arrangements for the installation of these cornerstones.
- Mausoleums, sarcophagi, and statues are not permitted.
No shrubbery, trees or other plantings may be planted on lots.
No enclosure of the lot is permitted.
Benches or chairs may be installed only with the vestry’s permission.
Any obstacle placed on a lot without authorization will be removed.
- Foundations for all monuments must have sufficient depth and be so constructed to insure a minimum amount of settling.
- The Churchyard Chairperson must be notified in advance of placing any stones.
- Temporary markers must be replaced by permanent markers within 12 months.
- No church survey markers may be moved or removed.
- Flowers and decorations shall not be allowed to remain on the graves for more than a month and will be removed after that time at the discretion of the Churchyard Chairperson.
The Vestry of St. Mary Anne’s Church reserves the right to amend and add to the above regulations at any time changes are considered necessary. A copy of these regulations will be given to the purchaser of a burial site, and the purchaser agrees to follow the regulations outlined here. These regulations take precedence over any previous regulations.
Christine Cameron Memorial Garden Regulations
The Christine Cameron Memorial Garden is available for the disposition of cremated remains and is open both to members and non-members of St. Mary Anne’s. There is a separate set of policies which govern the use of this Memorial Garden. The price for a committal in the Memorial Garden is $100 plus the cost of the memorial plaque for church members and $200 plus the cost of the memorial plaque for non-members.
- The ashes of persons electing cremation may be interred in the Christine Cameron Memorial Garden at St. Mary Anne’s Episcopal Church. Interment will be in accordance with this policy statement.
- The person whose ashes are to be interred need not have been a member or former member of St. Mary Anne’s Church. Cremains burial need not be preceded by a funeral or memorial service using St. Mary Anne’s or its clergy. However, any graveside service must have the approval of St. Mary Anne’s clergy.
- Ashes will be buried with containers provided by the Cemetery Warden of St. Mary Anne’s or placed directly into the ground.
- The location of burials will not have visible identification. The specific burial site will be recorded in St. Mary Anne’s Churchyard records.
- The placing of flowers in the Memorial Garden will be limited to the day of interment. Flowers shall be removed the day following interment or as soon thereafter as convenient. Donations of perennial plants in keeping with the Memorial Garden landscape may be accepted at the discretion of the Church.
- Reservations for specific burial sites will not be accepted. The Memorial Garden is designed to permit burials in perpetuity; thus, reservations are unnecessary.
- Prepayment for burial privilege will be accepted. Should a refund of a prepaid burial privilege be requested, the exact amount of the original payment will be refunded.
- It is hereby specifically provided that the Memorial Garden is not a public place of interment. Purchase of burial privilege is available to the public at the discretion of the Vestry. The Vestry, at its discretion, may restrict or refuse the sale of burial privilege at any time.
- No person shall acquire any right in or with respect to any property of St. Mary Anne’s Episcopal Church by virtue of interment.
- All persons using the facilities of the Memorial Garden will be given a copy of this policy statement. The Vestry reserves the right to change or terminate the terms of this policy statement without notice or obligation to any persons.
- The price for a committal in the Memorial Garden is $100 plus the cost of the memorial plaque for church members and $200 plus the cost of the memorial plaque for non-members. The cost and placing of the memorial plaque is the responsibility of the user of the Memorial Garden.
Adopted by the Vestry,
October 19, 2011
Effective April 1, 2012
To learn more about funeral procedures at St. Mary Anne’s please click here: http://www.stmaryanne.org/funerals/