Burial of Ashes at All Saints, Whitstable

If you have recently lost a loved one, please accept our sincere condolences. We know this is a painful and distressing time, and we consider it a privilege at All Saints to offer our churchyard as a peaceful place where you can find comfort and remember them.

 

To help you decide on the best resting place, we have outlined our two options below in simple terms. Please note that in the Church of England, ashes cannot be scattered on the ground, so all ashes are gently buried.

 

What Happens on the Day

For both options, Rev Jayne Edinboro (or another authorised minister) will lead a short, 5-to-10-minute service of prayers and blessing at the graveside. There is no charge for the minister leading these prayers at the plot (please note: this is a blessing by the graveside rather than a service inside the church building itself, which carries separate fees).

 

On the day, we ask families to meet us in the car park so we can walk up together, and you are welcome to invite as few or as many people as you wish.

 

Option 1: The Garden of Remembrance

This is a quiet, natural lawned area at the very far end of the churchyard, past the stone plots.

 

• How it works: Ashes are poured directly and loosely into the earth without a box or urn, and the turf is replaced on top.

   

• Memorials: To keep this area completely natural, no stones, plaques, or ornaments of any kind are permitted, only grass.

   

• Records: Because there are no markers, we do not map exact spots in this garden. However, you are very welcome to take photographs on the day if you hope for other family members' ashes to be buried nearby in the future.

   

• Total Cost: £281 (for one set of ashes)

   

  • £206 – Statutory legal fee for the burial.

     

  • £40 – Verger fee (for showing you the churchyard in advance and assisting on the day).

     

  • £35 – Gravedigger fee (for Dave and Helen Parry to prepare and fill the plot).

     

Option 2: The Main Churchyard (With a Stone Tablet)

This area allows you to mark the spot with a flat stone tablet and bury the ashes inside a biodegradable casket or urn.

 

• Containers: Urns or boxes must be completely biodegradable (such as wood, wicker, or cardboard—no plastic or metal) and small enough to fit into the plot.

   

• Single or Double Plots (Planning for the future): We do not bury spouses or relatives side-by-side in separate plots. Instead, if you wish to leave room for a second person's ashes in the future, we dig the plot at "double depth" now so the second set of ashes can be placed on top in the same plot later.

   

Costs & Fee Breakdown for Option 2

• Single-depth plot (for 1 set of ashes): £281 in total

   

  • £206 – Statutory legal fee.

     

  • £40 – Verger fee.

     

  • £35 – Gravedigger fee for Dave and Helen Parry (single depth).

     

• Double-depth plot (burying 1 set of ashes now, leaving room for a 2nd set in the future): £306 in total

   

  • £206 – Statutory legal fee.

     

  • £40 – Verger fee.

     

  • £60 – Gravedigger fee for Dave and Helen Parry (digging extra deep for two sets).

     

• Two sets of ashes buried together on the same day: £512 in total

   

  • £412 – Statutory legal fee (£206 per set of ashes—this government fee is charged for each set, even when placed in the same plot at the same time).

     

  • £40 – Verger fee (charged once per service).

     

  • £60 – Gravedigger fee for Dave and Helen Parry (one double-depth dig for both sets).

     

A gentle note on future burials and price changes: All Church of England fees increase every year on 1st January in line with inflation. If you choose a double-depth plot now to leave room for a second set of ashes in the future, please note that fees for the second burial cannot be paid in advance. When that future burial takes place, the digging fee will be at the lower single-depth rate (currently £35) because the plot is only dug halfway down, alongside whatever the standard legal and verger fees are at that future date. Rev Jayne will happily talk you through how this works in person so you don't need to worry about the figures now.

Guidelines for the Stone Tablet (Option 2 only)

Because churchyard regulations can feel a little overwhelming, here is a simple summary of what is allowed when the time comes to order a stone:

 

• Style & Size: Upright headstones are not permitted. Only flat tablets laid flush with the ground are allowed (up to 18 x 18 x 2 inches).

   

• Materials: Unpolished natural stones (Portland, Purbeck, York, or Nabrasena marbles, Celtic limestone, slate, or honed pale grey granite) or solid oak/teak.

   

• Wording & Flowers: Up to 4 lines of text for one person (or 9 lines for two people), including their name and dates of birth and death. Lettering must be a matt grey or earth-coloured finish. Photographs, trademarks, or mason names are not permitted, and any flower vases must be built flush into the tablet or ground.

   

• Choosing a Stonemason & Costs: The tablet is bought separately through a funeral director or stonemason. We strongly recommend using a local stonemason who knows our churchyard well, rather than an online company, as local firms guarantee their work — please do ask us about stonemasons we work with who are reliable and understand the regulations well. There is an additional £96 church fee (subject to inflation) when the stone is eventually laid, which your stonemason will usually include on their bill.

   

• Timing: To allow the earth to settle naturally, your stonemason must wait at least one month after the burial before applying to Rev Jayne for permission, and the stone is usually placed a couple of months after the service.

   

Next Steps & How to Arrange a Burial

If you would like to go ahead, please get in touch with us when you feel ready and fill out the form below

Please let us know

 

1. Which area you prefer: Option 1 (Garden of Remembrance) or Option 2 (Main Churchyard).

    

2. How many sets of ashes you are looking to bury right now (one set, or two sets together).

    

3. If choosing Option 2: Whether you need a single plot, or a double-depth plot to leave room for another family member in the future.

    

4. The full name of your loved one.

    

5. Your best contact phone number and email address.

    

What happens once you get in touch:

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1. Choosing the plot: Once we have your details, Virginia who works for admin for the church will pass them to our vergers and gravediggers, Dave and Helen Parry. They will call or email you to arrange a time to meet you in the churchyard and help you choose a peaceful, suitable spot.

    

2. Meeting the Vicar: You will then be put in touch with Rev Jayne Edinboro (or another member of our clergy) for a relaxed pastoral chat. She will talk you through the service, confirm the exact fee breakdown with you in person, and book a date when both she and Dave and Helen are available.

    

Please take your time reading this through, and if you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please use the form below or email us at office@allsaintswhitstable.com