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<p>The responsibility for maintenance of Church of England churchyards that are open
for burials lies with each Parochial Church Council. However, if the churchyard has
been closed for burials by order of the Privy Council or other agreement, the usual
practice is for responsibility to transfer to the relevant Local Authority. Maintenance
of a closed churchyard is still undertaken in line with the relevant ecclesiastical
legislation, which still applies. Each diocese similarly produces its own guidance
and regulations.</p><p> </p><p>Advice and guidance is always available for parishes
and all local authorities from the Cathedral and Church Buildings Division of the
Archbishops’ Council. The Church Buildings Division is currently developing a digital
Burial Grounds Management System with external partners. This will in the next few
years digitally map all graveyards and burial records to allow a publicly available
and searchable records and monuments map to increase access to our churchyards. Following
a successful trial in the Diocese of Leeds this project will gradually roll out to
the rest of the country.</p>
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