FAMILIES with loved ones buried at a church near the Lickey Hills were astounded to see personal items which had been left on graves stuffed into bin bags and left for removal by clergy.
Mourners visiting the graveyard of Holy Trinity Church, just off Rose Hill, said they arrived to see their potted flowers, plants, trinkets and sentimental items removed from graves without notice or reason.
In total, the church’s clergy had placed upwards of 30 families’ belongings and items into named bin bags alongside notes which read ‘Please remove these items. Anything remaining will be disposed of by church wardens.’
Rubery resident, John King, aged 88, has been visiting his wife’s grave at the church since her death six years ago. He said the ordeal of having to rummage through bin bags for his wife’s items was ‘very upsetting’.
Another mourner arrived to find the wedding ring of a loved one, which had been placed on a grave, also removed and placed in a bin bag.
Mr King contacted the Standard as he wanted to raise awareness of the limitations being placed on what items were allowed to be left on graves at the church to warn those considering purchasing a plot in the graveyard.
He said he has contacted the vicar of the church who claimed health and safety was the reason for the items being removed.
The vicar also claimed to Mr King that various church’s across Birmingham had adopted similar policies.
After attempting to contact Bshop Michael Volland of the Diocese of Birmingham, Mr King was met with no response or confirmation of which churches had also adopted the policy.
According to the vicar, potted plants are no longer allowed to be left near graves.
Flowers must be in bunches and be laid on top of graves. Potted plants or flowers which are planted in the ground near graves are acceptable.
The church’s response
The church wardens of Lickey Parish and Rev Sheri Gidney said they took seriously their responsibility for the graveyard at Holy Trinity Lickey and held in deep respect the mementos left by people caring for the graves of their loved ones.
They added the items were removed after health and safety concerns where an ‘usually large number of mementos were in evidence on some graves’.
The church said the wardens and Rev Gidney conscientiously undertook the decision to uphold the National Church of England Churchyard Regulations, to ensure the graveyard would be well maintained and that it would be safe for all visitors and for the volunteers who maintain its grounds.
They added signs were put up by both entrances to the churchyard explaining this decision and asking relatives to reduce the number of mementos on graves over a three-month period.
After this period, such mementos that we’re still to be attended to by relatives, would then be very respectfully removed and placed in individual white bags for safe keeping, for relatives to collect.
The church wardens and Rev Sheri are very grateful to the many families who have kindly removed such mementos within the three-month period.
The church does keep an up-to-date Burial Register of those laid to rest in the graveyard, but this does not include contact details for those who care for the graves themselves, in compliance with GDPR.
