Welcome to St Cuthbert's Churchyard.

There has been a church, and a churchyard, in this place for over one thousand years. For long centuries the villagers of Ormesby have been laid to rest here - the Pennymans from their Hall and the ploughman from his cottage.
The Vicar, Churchwardens, Parochial Church Council and officials from the Diocese of York are committed to handing on this historic and beautiful Churchyard to future generations with the same appearance and character that we have inherited from the past.
For this reason we draw the attention of all those who tend graves and memorial stones to the Churchyard Regulations so that we can work together to maintain this ancient and beautiful traditional English Churchyard. That is a very important understanding; St Cuthbert's is not a Municipal Cemetery; St Cuthbert's is an ancient and a traditional English Churchyard.
If you find that there are aspects of your grave, or memorial stone, which are outside the Regulations, we ask you to arrange to remove them as soon as possible. If you are unsure and would like advice please do speak to Robert, the Vicar. Robert can be contacted at the Vicarage, 54 Church Lane, Ormesby, Middlesbrough, TS7 9AU: Tel. 01642 314445

Gravestones.
Whilst we appreciate that as a way of expressing love and respect, several families have cultivated individual 'gardens' to the front of their gravestones this is not in keeping with a traditional, historic, English Churchyard. Further, the concrete, plastic, wooden and chain edgings to these 'gardens' and the stone or marble chippings and ornaments often contained within them, are not only out of place, but the edgings present problems to our grass cutters. Vases and other kinds of memorials placed on the grass in front of a headstone present similar problems. Fresh flowers are beautiful and welcomed. Plastic and silk flowers appear out of place in an ancient and an historic Churchyard.
Over time, every gravestone becomes unstable. The wind and the weather affect everything. Please ensure that your gravestone is stable. If it is unstable, it must be made stable by a qualified stonemason. New legal, requirements concerning gravestones are in place and you must talk to the vicar before any work is undertaken.
Any kind of gardening work; digging, planting, grass cutting and the like, presents problems. Please understand that we must avoid a situation where anyone can come into the churchyard to simply dig, plant and cultivate at will.

The Garden Of Remembrance.
The Garden of Remembrance is part of our beautiful and historic churchyard and needs to be in keeping with both. We want to do all that we can to make sure that the grass in the Garden of Remembrance is maintained to a high standard and that flower vases do not hinder the maintenance or present dangers to the grass cutters.
Please use heavy, natural stone vases. Plastic containers, glass jars, empty jam jars and the like, are not only out of place but also blow over, and, most often, break. Broken glass and plastic is a hazard to wildlife, to visitors and to our grass cutters. To help maintain the appearance of the Garden of Remembrance, and the safety of our grass cutters, please ensure that vases are placed away from the edge of the memorial stone. Fresh flowers are beautiful and welcomed. Plastic and silk flowers and other ornaments really are out of place in an ancient and a beautiful churchyard.
The Garden of Remembrance is for everyone. Flower borders, or 'gardens', near to individual stones, the placing of vases or ornaments between stones and the cutting or the cultivation of particular areas of the grass destroys the overall appearance of the Garden.

A Summary For Your Guidance.
In order to express our love and care for a peaceful and a beautiful and an historic English village churchyard and because some things are dangerous or out of place the following are not permitted;
Individual 'gardens' to the front of headstones or memorial stones, including edgings, ornaments, chippings and the like.
Any kind of gardening work; digging; planting ; grass cutting and the like. This includes the removal of naturally growing meadow plants and grasses. Please understand that we must avoid a situation where anyone can come into the churchyard and simply dig and plant and cultivate at will.
Glass or plastic containers or ornaments. Pictures, portraits, cards, statues, kerbs, railings, chains and the like.
Artificial flowers, including artificial Christmas wreaths.
Memorials that have not been authorised, wooden crosses, hearts, books and the like.
Any unauthorised renovation or remedial work to headstones or memorial stones.
We work, together, to maintain, and to hand on to future generations, a beautiful and an historic and traditional English village churchyard.

The Meadow Area.
An area at the rear of the churchyard has been set aside as a meadow area. The meadow area is uncultivated, that is to say, meadow plants and grasses are allowed to grow undisturbed.
The meadow has been side aside for the scattering, or the burial, of cremated remains.
Individual memorials or the placing of flowers, is out of keeping in the meadow area and walking over the area destroys the plants and creates pathways.
We have a small team of voluntary gardeners who meet each week to maintain the churchyard. If you can offer it, even limited help would be welcome. please contact the vicar.
Contributions towards the grass cutting, the cost of emptying the churchyard bins and the general upkeep and maintenance of the churchyard are always welcome. Please contact the vicar.