In case of funerals, burials or thanksgiving services:
If a loved one has died do contact us by email: vicar@wonershchurch.org.uk, or alternatively office@wonershchurch.org.uk, and we will be in touch. We are here to support and walk with you through this difficult journey, which does not end with the Funeral Service.
Spiritual care of people who are sick, dying or bereaved following the loss of a loved one is an important part of our care for the community and we do have a specialist bereavement team who will be able to sit, listen, share and pray with you at this difficult time. The team is always willing to meet with people at difficult times, and we would be pleased to be involved with the funerals of people of faith with a connection to our parish irrespective of whether they attend church regularly.
If you would like someone to visit or pray with you, please speak to the vicar or contact the Parish Office (01483 890266). If you want to organise a funeral or burial of ashes, it is often easiest to alert us and then make contact through a funeral director, who will co-ordinate diaries and make the necessary practical arrangements.
New Graves
The parish of Wonersh and Blackheath has an open cemetery on the edge of Blackheath village. There are certain restrictions to whom may be buried or interred in this space and the rules regarding headstones and memorials on new graves are quite strict. We follow the National Churchyard Regulations meaning that nothing may be introduced or added in any way without the written permission of the Vicar, and often the PCC in addition.
The form required to apply for a new stone or monument (CR1 Form) and/or the local Churchyard Regulations 2015 can be requested from the Church Office.
Finding Graves and burial plots
If you are trying to trace burials or graves, we will gladly assist, where we have the information. Finding the right information usually takes some time so we cannot give you an answer straight away! A note of caution: we may have a record of a burial but no record of where the grave is; we may only use what records we have. It may be that records were made but have not survived or that some of the information we now record as a matter of course these days was not written down in the past.
Burial Registers do not remain in churches for ever. In this Diocese the deposit of non-current parish records for safekeeping has been encouraged for many years. Once a Register is full, and they no longer need to be referred to frequently, we deposit ours with:
Surrey History Centre,
130 Goldsworth Road, Woking, GU21 6ND
Tel: 01483 518737 | email: shs@surreycc.gov.uk
Website www.surreycc.gov.uk/surreyhistoryservice