St. John’s Historic Cemetery
The history of St. John’s Cemetery, which adjoins the church, began earlier than the church itself. The first recorded burials occurred in 1867. Pioneers at Peace by Jill Lyons (Spurwood Press, 1994, ISBN No. 0 646 19503 4) relates the history of the cemetery. A cemetery map and an index of burials and commemorations are included.
If you are looking for family members or other individuals who may be buried in St. John’s Cemetery, or interred in the Columbarium, you may search the active database via this LINK to the BeyondCloud database. You may also search via this LINK to Gutenberg.net.au, which provides static information about the cemetery and columbarium as collected by the Society in 2015. Gutenberg includes actual photographs of headstones, memorials and plaques.
Burial and Interment
St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, Gordon, is required to comply with the Cemetery and Crematorium Operator Code of Practice 2018 approved by CCNSW. Copies of this code of practice are available upon request from the Parish Office.
Burial and Interment at St. John’s Cemetery is perpetual: a right of interment in a specified site with the remains to be left undisturbed forever.
Purchase of a niche is not required for scattering cremated remains in the Cemetery. You must, however, inform the Parish Administrator of any intention to do so. Information about the deceased, in the form of a Death Certificate or Certificate of Cremation, must be provided prior to scattering any remains.
Questions, concerns or complaints may be directed to the Parish Administrator.
1. BURIAL IN THE CEMETERY
Burial sites in the cemetery are no longer available. Should a family decide they would like cremated remains interred into an existing family plot, they need to provide proof they have authority for such an interment to be made. This can be discussed with the Parish Administrator.
Burials in family plots will be considered up to the third generation (grandchildren) of the original plot/right holder. Please note that it is likely that a professional gravedigger will need to probe a family plot before permission for burial can be granted. The Parish Administrator will advise and arrange for this service if necessary. The family is responsible for covering this fee, as well as (if allowed) the digging of the actual grave. Unless a family plot is covered with stone or concrete, it is almost always possible to have cremated remains interred therein.
2. COLUMBARIUM
The Columbarium is located at the rear of the Church, forming a wall between the Church grounds and the Cemetery.
All arrangements concerning the Columbarium are handled by the Parish Administrator, who may be contacted at the Parish Office.
The Funeral Director should be advised by the family to arrange the transfer of cremated remains to St. John’s for the attention of the Parish Administrator, to enable placement in the Columbarium to proceed. The family will be notified once the remains have been received.
Please contact the Parish Administrator for additional assistance if cremated remains are being held by anyone other than a Funeral Director.
3. NICHES
Niches may be purchased at the time of bereavement or in advance, especially where family grouping is desired. An individual niche is required for each interment.
The Parish Administrator will be pleased to provide advice and guidance regarding available niches.
4. PLAQUES
A bronze plaque of standard size and design is affixed to the wall over the niche and will be inscribed in accordance with family wishes.
PLEASE NOTE: We do not arrange plaques as that is the responsibility of the family. The Parish Administrator will be happy to provide contact details for a recommended supplier. Plaques should be sent to the church office to enable interment to proceed; the family will be notified when it is received.
5. FORMS, FEES AND PAYMENT
The Parish Administrator will assist in completing the paperwork required by the government of NSW to purchase the right to a niche. Depending on the specific situation, differing kinds of identification must be provided; the Parish Administrator will advise on this based on your individual circumstances. Identification documents will be viewed but not kept on file.
A death certificate and/or cremation certificate are required prior to burial or interment. There is also a government of NSW form that the Parish Administrator will assist you to complete. These documents will be copied and maintained in the Cemetery Records.
Niches vary in price: $1,300.00, $1,200.00, or $1,100.00, GST inclusive, depending on the location in the wall. Please contact the Parish Administrator for specifics.
Payment for each niche is to be made at the time of reservation and a receipt for each niche purchased will be provided as well as kept in the Cemetery Records. Please keep your receipt with your other important papers, such as your Will; you may make additional copies for relatives and/or other designees.
There is no additional fee beyond purchase of a niche for interment of cremated remains in the Columbarium Wall. There is a fee of $100.00 for interment of cremated remains into an existing family plot in the Cemetery.
Headstones for the Cemetery and plaques for the Columbarium are outsourced and are the responsibility of the family. The Parish Administrator can provide details of a recommended supplier.
