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St Andrew’s Uniting Church, Gardiner Garden of Remembrance Guidelines
Background
· The Garden of Remembrance was established in 1986 for the benefit of those who desire that the memory of their loved ones rest in the precincts of the Church.
· It is open to families with current or past membership of St Andrew’s and to other members of the community who are aware of the Garden. The Garden has been laid out on a rectangular grid. Permanent reference points for the grid are fixed in the surrounding walls. This grid system offers approximately 290 plots. Timber pegs in the lawn provide intermediate reference points so that an aluminium frame can be used to locate particular plots.
· A Book of Remembrance is displayed in the Church and it contains the name of each person whose ashes are interred in the Garden, together with details provided by the family.
· The Book of Remembrance is leather-bound with loose-leaf inserts. It is kept on a glass-topped lectern adjacent to the south door of the Church.
· The Garden is maintained by gifts of the families of those who are remembered in this way.
Interment Procedure
· Ashes will be interred at the discretion of the Minister and the Church Council.
· Family representatives are to provide the ashes from the Crematorium in a sealed container, together with a Certificate of Cremation.
· The Minister, or the Minister’s agent, is responsible for interring the ashes. It is left to the family members to decide whether they want to attend the interment. If so desired, the Minister will arrange a service of interment. For instance, family prayers may be offered in the Garden after an interment.
Book of Remembrance
· The Secretary of the Church Council, or a party directed by the Secretary, is responsible for producing each family information sheet using computer-generated calligraphy.
· The Secretary of the Church Council will send a copy of the information sheet, together with a Certificate of Interment to the family concerned.
· A monitor appointed by the Church Council will ensure that family information sheets are displayed in turn, on anniversaries of deaths.
Other Records
· Ongoing records for the Garden of Remembrance will be maintained in the Church Office. Copies of the Certificates of Interment will be placed in the Church Archives.
· Details of interments will be recorded in the Minutes of the Church Council.
Garden Maintenance
· The Garden will be maintained by volunteers from the Congregation whenever possible. If professional services are required, expenses will be paid from the Trust Fund.
Fees
· The current fee of $200 will be reviewed periodically, on advice from the Treasurer of the Church Council and is paid into a Trust Fund which will be used for the maintenance of the Garden and for any upgrading that is required.