The removal of sentimental ornaments from graves at St Paul’s Church Langleybury has upset grieving families.
One local resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, was devastated by the ornaments and flowers removed from his parent’s graves. The resident says St Lawrence Church, in Abbots Langley, has the same rules and regulations, as St Paul’s Church Langleybury however, they do not follow the same rules and regulations as there are many graves with artificial flowers and flowerpots at St Lawrence Church.
The concerned resident has labelled this as “hypocrisy as one church follows the rules and regulations and the other does not”.
The objects removed from graves at the churchyard include artificial flowers; free-standing plastic,metal, glass and vase arrangements, unless they were part of a memorial’s base; loose items like wreaths; and anything with wire, thread or plastic.
He then went on to say St Paul’s Langleybury, volunteers had planted bushes, which have small plastic cages around them, which he said was not part of the rules and regulations and again called this “hypocrisy”.
A spokesperson from the Diocese of St Albans said: “We are naturally concerned to hear of the distress that has arisen concerning grave memorials in some of our local churches.
“While the diocese offers best practice guidelines for the care and maintenance of churchyards, there are also statutory regulations which must be followed, issued by the Diocesan Chancellor.
“The governing body of each parish, the Parochial Church Council (PCC), interprets and implement the churchyard regulations as well as following the best practice guidelines.
“The regulations have to be observed and applied in varying circumstances and our clergy are very much aware of the sensitivities involved.
“Our churches are open to dialogue and we always recommend that discussions take place with the clergy and with our diocesan staff who are responsible for supporting the parishes with regard to churchyards.”
I feel this should not be allowed to happen. People want to remember loved ones with laying flowers or plants on graves. Vicars speak at funerals and are there when people are buried so to not let you put anything on graves is not something I would expect from a vicar . We should be allowed to remember the dead with gifts at graves if that how we want to remember them