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CEMETERY BY-LAWS ST. JOHN'S PARISH CHRIST CHURCH, ACCOKEEK Revised April, 1990 1. HISTORY Christ Church, Accokeek, began as a Chapel of Ease under the sponsorship of St. John's Church, Broad Creek, in the year 1698. It is not known if the present cemetery was established at that time. It is doubtful, however, since the oldest legible grave is dated 1775. The original cemetery is located immediately adjacent to the church and extends southward to the gravel drive leading from the blacktop parking lot to the Rectory, and eastward to the Parish Hall. All records of this section were lost in the Rectory fire in the early 1930's. The second and newest section of the cemetery was laid out thereafter, and is the area in which sites are available for reservations or interments. The first formal cemetery by-laws were enacted by the Vestry on November 14, 1968, with minor amendments made on June 10, 1971. With the exception of short entries contained in the Vestry notes of April 6, 1960, concerning site pricing policy, no other records are available concerning cemetery regulations. 2. CEMETERY COMMITTEE The Cemetery Committee shall consist of a Chair appointed by the Vestry, and such other members as selected by the Chair. One member must be a vestryperson. Duties of the Committee are: A. Make such reports to the Vestry as the committee Chair or the Vestry may consider necessary; 3. BURIAL SITES A. Definition A burial site, or grave site, is an area sufficient for one adult burial. A plat of grave sites in the new section, showing location and dimensions, is maintained by the Cemetery Committee Chair with copies held by the Rector, Treasurer, and Senior Warden. B. Donation Schedule The donation schedule for reserved burial sites is established as $400 for members (currently listed in the parish register) and $1,000 for nonmembers (includes perpetual care). Sites may be reserved by either members or nonmembers by payment of the suggested donation. Payment of the donation for the burial site will be made prior to opening of a grave. A copy of the by-laws and reservation certificate will be furnished to persons reserving sites. Donation does not include cost of opening or closing of burial site. C. Limitations i. Reservations are made for specific persons. They will not be resold or reassigned without written Vestry approval. ii. Donations for reserved sites will be refunded in the event that they are no longer desired. If, after 100 years from time of reservation the site is still unused, the plot will be returned to the Vestry. This provision applies to those sites to which a specific name has been assigned. 4. COLUMBARIUM A. A memorial garden has been established for the interment of ashes of persons that have cremated. The ashes may be buried in the gardens or scattered along the border plantings of the garden or the rose garden. B. Donations for interment are $400 for members and $1,000 for nonmembers, which includes perpetual care of the garden and name and date engraved on a 6"x12" marker. C. Double tier interments are permitted with prior arrangements, as the first urn must be at least 3 feet deep to accommodate the second urn. The second interment would require payment of additional fees. 5. MAINTENANCE A. The present policy of the Vestry is to provide regular mowing and general trimming and maintenance of headstones and footstones. Relatives, descendants, and friends of those whose bodies lie buried are encouraged to trim around monuments, remove withered flowers, and do other work not in conflict with these by-laws. 6. LOT MARKERS A. Corner Markers. The corners of a grave site or series of sites reserved or interred, may be indicated by bronze or stone markers, inscribed with a single letter, set level with the ground. B. Footstones and Other Memorials. Christ Church will place footstone markers on each interred site. Headstones or other memorials approved by the Rector or Cemetery Committee Chair may be erected. Foundations for headstones or other large memorials are required and must be at least 8" thick and 3" larger than the base of the stone. Foundations will be "wet" mix concrete (no dry pack). Foundation footing must be approved (before pouring concrete) by the Rector or Cemetery Committee Chair. C. Structures. Mounds, railings, curbing, chains, coping, or other structures devised for delineating graves shall not be built. D. Notice Required. Notice must be given the Rector, Senior Warden or Cemetery Committee Chair 10 days in advance before any lot marker, monument or corner markers are set. This interval is needed to properly stake out the appropriate location. 7. FLOWERS AND PLANTINGS A. Planting of perennial shrubbery or trees on interred or reserved plots is not permitted. B. Placement of cut flowers, wreaths, artificial flowers, etc. is permitted, but the Vestry cannot be responsible for damage to flowers resulting from the action of an employee or volunteer worker using mowing machinery or otherwise. C. Flower containers which cannot be stored below the level of the ground will be subject to removal at cleanups. The following are prohibited because of hazard when picked up by mowing machinery: glass containers and wire flower racks which can be separated from their wreaths or floral arrangements. 8. INTERMENTS A. The Rector or Cemetery Committee Chair must be notified at least 12 hours before any site is opened. This time is needed in order to mark and/or verify lot corner locations. B. Private arrangements must be made for opening and closing the grave site, but must be cleared with the Cemetery Committee Chair or Rector. C. The use of inexpensive coffins is encouraged. Concrete liners or vaults are required for all interments. Liners must not exceed 36" in width. D. Double tier interments are subject to the approval of the Rector and Cemetery Committee Chair, and would require payment of additional fees ($400 for members and $1,000 for nonmembers). A vault is required for double tier interment. The depth for the first vault is 8 feet. 9. CREMATIONS (URN BURIALS) OUTSIDE OF COLUMBARIUM A. Standard size grave sites may be used for cremation, however, no more than one cremation burial may be interred in one site without payment of additional $400 for members and $1,000 for nonmembers for each additional interment. 10. WAIVERS A. The Rector may waive Paragraph 3B (Donation Schedule). Such waivers will be reported at the next regular Vestry meeting. ______________________ BURIAL FROM THE CHURCH Arrangements for the Burial Service to be done in the church building are at the discretion of the Rector. There is no donation suggested for church members currently listed in the parish register. For non-members, a donation of $500 should be made in advance to The Treasurer, Christ Church, Accokeek, for the use of the building and for clergy time. If a visiting pastor conducts the service, a donation of $200 for the use of the building is requested, also payable in advance. If there is to be music with a service in the church, the organist’s fee is $150.
7/10/03
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