FUNERALS

Arranging a funeral

A priest may be available to conduct a funeral either in one of the parish churches (St Mary’s or All Saints), or in another location such as a chapel or grave-side at any of Perth’s cemeteries.

Choosing a priest to celebrate the life of your loved one and conduct the funeral is appropriate as an acknowledgement of the faith of the deceased, but may also reflect the faith of bereaved family members and the desire to hear the promise of resurrection by which we claim that life is stronger than death. The Anglican funeral rite, like those of all the mainstream Christian denominations, provides scope for celebration, remembering with affection and humour the person to whom we are bidding farewell, acknowledging grief and the need for letting go, and expressing our faith in the God who created us. A funeral service can be personalised and involve younger and older members of the family, and provides an opportunity for compassion and care for those who have been bereaved.

When you advise your funeral director that you would like to have your loved one’s service conducted in our parish , they will put us in contact with you and advise the choices that you have made regarding the time and place of the funeral. It can be a good idea to contact us first to ensure a priest is available at your preferred time. One advantage in holding the funeral service at the church is that there are fewer limitations on time. Depending on other bookings the Minchin Centre (adjacent to St Mary’s) may also be available for refreshments following the service. There are a number of options you may wish to consider, for example a burial or cremation may be scheduled for later in the day to give you the opportunity to spend time with other mourners before proceeding to the cemetery.

Please note that the cemeteries at All Saints and St Mary’s are closed, which means that apart from those whose right to bury was recognised prior to 1963 we are unable to arrange a burial at these sites. It is possible however to inter the ashes of your loved one at either cemetery should you wish to acknowledge a connection with the parish. Please contact us to explore the options, which are discussed here.

When you ask for a priest to conduct your loved one’s funeral there is a donation which is normally organised through the funeral director, and we suggest a figure of $300 is appropriate as a recognition of the time involved in preparation. If one of our churches is to be used for the service we there is an additional charge of $100. If you wish to hire the Minchin Centre or Cloisters for refreshments following the service a fee is payable directly to the parish and depends on the duration of hire and venue .

Cemetery Guidelines

The historical cemeteries at both St Mary’s and All Saints churches are an important link to the earliest days of European settlement in the Swan Valley.

The first funeral at St Mary’s was for Lucy Yule, the wife of Magistrate T.N. Yule who died in 1838. The oldest surviving gravestone at All Saints is that of Jane Dewar, who died in 1853, and her husband John who died the following year. Many of the earliest burials at both sites are unmarked.

Both cemeteries were closed in 1963 following a decision by the Perth Diocesan Trustees, which means that in general no further burials can be conducted. Burials however continued to be conducted for families who had purchased family plots prior to the closure, and today the parish still maintains a list of those who retain a right to be buried in each of the cemeteries.

Any enquiries regarding a continuing right to be buried at either All Saints or St Mary’s should be directed to the Parish Office . Please bear in mind that permission for a funeral to be conducted in a closed cemetery needs to be sought from the Minister of Local Government.

The cemeteries at All Saints and St Mary’s fall under the authority of a Local Board comprising the current Parish Priest and Wardens. The Local Board is responsible for making regulations from time to time regarding the general upkeep of the cemeteries, although the maintenance of individual graves remains the responsibility of relatives.

Rules relating to the cemeteries currently include:

Close-up photography of grave-markers may only be conducted with the permission of relatives of those interred in the grave plot.
The Board reserves the right to remove broken masonry and wrought-iron work to maintain the neatness and safety for those using the site, and to plant within and around grave plots no longer being actively maintained by families.
Flowers placed on graves must be confined neatly within fixed vases or receptacles.
Artificial flowers are permitted, although we prefer natural flowers or living plants for aesthetic and ecological reasons.
Loose objects including toys or memorabilia may not be left on graves.
The Board reserves the right to tidy the cemetery by removing loose objects and spent flowers.

Interment of ashes

The practise of interring the ashes of a deceased loved one within the grounds of a parish church is in recognition that they are still surrounded by a community of worship and loving care. Arrangements can be made by families of parish members and those who have had a personal connection with the parish, for ashes to be interred at either church. This may also be appropriate for those whose funeral has been held at either church if the family wishes to acknowledge an ongoing connection with the parish.

It was the practise in the parish after the closure of the cemeteries in 1963 to permit plaques to be installed on the boundary walls of the cemetery adjacent to ashes interred within the perimeter. This practise has been discontinued in order to comply with the Diocesan policy on Memorial Gardens. Some families who had pre-paid in order to reserve a position may still be accommodated, so please contact the parish if you are in this category.

In general, ashes are currently interred in a Memorial Garden set aside for the purpose. No containers can be interred with the ashes.The parish records the names and details of those whose ashes have been interred in the Memorial Garden in a register held within the church and available for public inspection. In accordance with Diocesan policy, no plaques or permanent memorabilia marking where the ashes have been interred are permitted. There is an existing Memorial Garden at St Mary’s which is in use. Fees for ground preparation and the interment service will be provided on enquiry. Families may also wish to make a further donation towards the establishment and upkeep of the memorial garden.

Some families wish to make a gift such as a garden bench or a tree near the place of interment, and a plaque may be affixed with a dedication. Please contact us if you wish to donate a tree or other item in memory of your loved one. Consultation with the parish as to the tree variety and placement is essential. Please contact us to discuss your wishes.

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