Some two dozen people met on 27th February in St Pauls Church Parish Room to discuss what might be done in the light of there being space for only two new full graves in the churchyard. The following points were raised:
The possibility of extending the churchyard. It was noted that this poses considerable problems, both because the surrounding land is Common land and there may well be all sorts of covenants over its use, and also because being wooded it would be highly expensive to prepare the ground for burials.
The option of re-burials where burials had taken place over 100 years ago was mentioned. Current legislation is looking at this possibility. The church council were not in favour of this and all sorts of complications would arise when buried bones were unearthed.
The suggestion was made that it might be possible to find some land in the village which could be consecrated as a new burial ground. However, the cost of purchase of the land, of securing it and providing adequate access as well as providing for its maintenance would be substantial and planning permission would have to be obtained from Dacorum Council.
In discussions with the Cemetery Department of Dacorum Council Jim Stevens had confirmed his assumption that because the Council provide cemetery facilities within the Councils area (namely at Buncefield, in Berkhamstead and in Tring) they would not offer any financial support for any initiative in Chipperfield.
Mark Jarrad, a member of the Chipperfield Parish Council, agreed to bring this issue to the next Council meeting.
Jim Stevens made it clear that there was plenty of space in the churchyard for the burial of the cremated remains of those linked with the Village that where there is a space in a partially used family grave, that space remains available for family use.