1. POLICY FOR BURIALS AT ST. MICHAEL'S CEMETERY
   
   1. Who may be buried:
   
   1.1 Since space is restricted those who may be buried in a new grave in the must also be restricted so that people who have a long association with St. Vincent's Parish through their regular worship have the opportunity to be buried at St. Michael's cemetery.
   
   1.2 The Trustees of the Diocese of Hallam do not allow the exclusive right to burial to be purchased in advance (see Diocese of Hallam, Cemeteries Policy - Appendix I) but letters of intent can be given.
   
   1.3 Subsequent burials in the grave are by agreement between the owner of the exclusive right, or whoever is the legal owner of the exclusive right by inheritance or gift, and the Parish Priest.
   
   1. Ownership of the exclusive right to burial cannot be transferred by sale or purchase.
   2. APPENDIX
      DIOCESE OF HALLAM: DIOCESAN CEMETERIES POLICY
      1. No new cemetery or extension of an existing cemetery may take place without the permission of the Bishop and Trustees.
      
      2. In accordance with canon 1208 a document signed by the Parish Priest, the Bishop and Chancellor must be filed in the diocesan archives and the parish archives stating that the cemetery has been established or extended and has been blessed according to the prescribed liturgical rites.  A copy of the parish cemetery regulations should be attached.  
      
      3. The parish priest should establish a body within the parish that he could consult over cemetery matters.  This body would represent continuity when the parish priest moves and maintain the local knowledge and records.  This parish body could be the existing Finance Committee, the Parish Council or even a separate Cemetery group if the priest feels this to be appropriate.
      
      4. Bearing in mind that a parish may not, according to civil law, dispose of land without obtaining a certificate testifying that the purchase price reflects market values, so plots cannot be disposed of except at a fee which is at least the same as those in neighbouring public cemeteries.  A Parish Priest may, having consulted the appropriate parish body, waive all or part of the standard parish fee for a grave.  
      
      5. Graves should not be sold in advance. A letter of intent should be for a specific named person or persons.  The letter of intent is not a freely transferable document for the named person or persons, or their family to sell or buy.  A copy of a letter of intent is attached as Appendix A.  
      
      The letters of intent must be carefully recorded and the number issued must never be more than the plots available. If the number of letter issued matches the number of plots available then forthwith only those who hold letters of intent can purchase the exclusive right to burial.
      
      Only letters of intent that can be produced will be accepted. Reported oral promises without written testimony will not be considered.
      
      6. Each parish priest should specify who shall be buried in the cemetery.  For example, those who live and/or worship in the parish.  This policy should be recorded in a document that is lodged with the appropriate parish body and with the Director of Finance.
      
      7. Proper records must be kept by the parish identifying owners of a plot and who is buried there.  
      
      8. The Trustees of the Diocese are available to offer advice on cemetery matters, if called upon by the parish priest.
      
      9. Any request for the exhumation of a body or ashes should be referred to the Chancellor.
      

ST. MICHAEL'S R.C. CEMETERY
List of Administrative fees as from
​1st June 2016:

Purchase of new grave: £1,250 (currently no new plots available at April 2018).
Re-opening of existing grave admin fee: £500
Burial of ashes casket: £50 Minister's fee plus £50 admin fee plus £40 grave digging fee.
Amendments to tombstone inscription: £25 admin fee (plus stonemason's fee).



SAMPLE LETTER OF INTENT
for those who wish to purchase a burial plot at a future date.

Date
Purchase of the exclusive right to burial: - Letter of Intent

Dear xxxxxxxxx,

Thank you for your enquiry regarding the purchase of the exclusive right to burial in a plot in the graveyard at St. Michael's R.C. Cemetery, Rivelin Valley Road, Sheffield S6 5GL.

The Trustees of the Diocese of Hallam do not allow purchase of this right in advance.  However, it is the policy of the parish to seek to ensure that those who have a long association with St. Vincent's R.C. church through their regular worship and their participation in the life of the parish have the opportunity to be buried here in accordance with their clearly expressed wishes.

On behalf of the parish I am able to give you this letter of intent to express the agreement that, should a plot be available at the time of your death then purchase of the exclusive right to burial at the cost then applicable will be available to your executor.

This letter of intent is valid only for the person named above and is not transferrable to other members of the family.

Please keep this letter in a safe place, which is known to your executors/next of kin.