‘The Law Commission today announces details of its review of the law governing how we deal with the bodies of loved ones when they die.’
Law Commission, 30th November 2023
Source: lawcom.gov.uk
‘Eleven consistory court judgments were circulated in November and relate to reordering, exhumation, and churchyards.’
Law & Religion UK, 30th November 2023
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
‘On 16 June 2021 the Court of Arches handed down its reserved judgment Re St Giles Exhall [2021] EACC 1 on which we posted a Case Note. This appeal was prompted by the decision in Re St Giles, Exhall [2020] ECC Cov 1, where permission was denied for a faculty for a memorial stone to include the words “Inár gcroíthe go deo”: Irish Gaelic for “in our hearts forever”. In its judgment, the Arches Court considered the factors that Chancellors should take into account and apply in relation to schemes of delegation (a.k.a. “Churchyard Regulations”), and when determining faculty petitions concerning inscriptions in languages other than English.’
Law & Religion UK, 20th November 2023
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
‘This briefing paper considers reuse of graves as a means of addressing the problem of the shortage of available space for burial.’
House of Commons Library, 16th October 2023
Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk
‘A woman has been barred from removing the body of her partner from a funeral home after becoming embroiled in high court litigation with one of his relatives.’
The Guardian, 6th September 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘On 3 July 2023, Resomation Ltd (“Natural Water Cremation”) issued a Press Release which announced:
“In a move that is set to revolutionise the way we say goodbye to loved ones, the UK’s leading funeral provider, Co-op Funeralcare, is set to pioneer the introduction of Resomation in the UK later this year. It will mark a major shift in UK funerals for more than 120 years, as the first alternative to burial or cremation since the introduction of the Cremation Act of 1902.”’
Law & Religion UK, 4th July 2023
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
‘The recent judgment Re Streatham Cemetery [2023] ECC Swk 3 concerns cemetery development. Opened more than one hundred years ago, there is now very little room in Streatham Cemetery for further burials. A Petition by the Bereavement Services Manager of Lambeth LBC[1] sought permission to re-use land within two areas of the cemetery through the operation of “lifting and deepening” of existing interments, thereby creating new burial space. The observations of Petchey Ch., (above and at [16]), indicate some of the issues to be addressed on the growing shortage of burial space.’
Law & Religion UK, 14th June 2023
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
‘The procedure of “coffin sliding” is one of the devices employed in the funeral trade for moving coffins to adjacent plots to remedy errors and other changes following their initial interment. Whilst its use is only infrequently reported, to date it has featured in four consistory court determinations. The associated law is discussed below with reference to the most recent reference to “coffin sliding”, Re Chevington Cemetery [2023] ECC New 3.’
Law & Religion UK, 25th April 2023
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
‘More than a decade after his death in police custody, the body of former paratrooper Christopher Alder was discovered lying in a mortuary. At the same time, in a grave bearing his name lay the body of a 77-year-old woman. No-one has ever been held responsible for either incident. Ahead of the 25th anniversary of his death, Mr Alder’s sister, Janet, spoke to the BBC about the psychological toll of her battle for truth and accountability.’
BBC News, 30th March 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘In Re Blagdon Cemetery [2002] Fam 299, the Arches Court reviewed the circumstances under which burial in a “family grave” might be considered as an exception to the general presumption of permanence of Christian burial arising from the initial act of interment.’
Law & Religion UK, 28th March 2023
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
‘Seven men involved in a cemetery brawl that left two people seriously injured have been sentenced for their roles in a family feud during two funerals.’
BBC News, 20th February 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The Law Commission of England and Wales has begun a new project that will review the ancient laws that govern the process of dealing with the remains of the deceased – bringing them into line with modern needs.’
Law Commission, 22nd December 2022
Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk
‘The post Law & religion in the UK courts 2022 highlights some of the most significant UK religion cases in the secular courts over the past year. Decisions of the consistory courts of the Church of England have been reported on a monthly basis and these ~150 cases were summarized in our annual review. In this post, we summarize nine cases which demonstrate different aspects of ecclesiastical law which have been of interest during the year. These include: “contested heritage“; the practical aspects of the Church’s “net zero“ commitment; a variant on the “seats vs pews” debate; a hark back to the Pre-Raphaelites; the Burial Act 1855; and cautionary tales from the courts.’
Law & Religion UK, 4th January 2023
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
‘No two Accessions are the same. That of King Edward VII in 1901 was characterised by widespread confusion regarding custom and practice, for Queen Victoria’s succession to the Throne had long ago faded from the public consciousness. This time, the “official mind” was better prepared and the major difference between the Accession of King Charles III in 2022 and that of his mother Queen Elizabeth II in February 1952 was its visibility. By comparing the ceremonial surrounding these Accessions (and some others), this article reveals developments in what Walter Bagehot called the “dignified” constitution over the past seven decades.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 28th September 2022
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘Two funeral providers have been banned from repeating claims about eco-friendly funeral packages by the UK’s advertising watchdog.’
BBC News, 3rd August 2022
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Kathleen Walsham is suing funeral giant Dignity for psychological personal injury after she claims she was told in 2016 that her husband’s remains had been buried 10 miles away in Essex.’
The Independent, 9th March 2022
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘A murderer who refuses to reveal the whereabouts of his wife’s body has been returned to jail after breaching his parole licence conditions.’
BBC News, 29th November 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘On 29 September, Defra announced a consultation on proposed amendments to the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 as they apply to groundwater activities and some related surface water discharges.’
Law & Religion UK, 24th November 2021
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
‘The brother, sister and mother of a woman whose mummified remains were found on a mattress will not face trial, a judge has ruled.’
The Guardian, 9th November 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Late on 27 September 2021, the Department of Health and Social Care issued the Consultation Proposal for mandatory COVID certification in a Plan B scenario: call for evidence, asking for responses by 11 October, although it encourages stakeholders to submit views as quickly as possible in case there is need to introduce certification, as part of Plan B, at short notice.’
Law & Religion UK, 28th September 2021
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
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