Primarily tranquil places to bury the dead and to grieve, churchyards are important for many other reasons. They tell us of our past, protect plants and animals for the future and provide peaceful spaces in which to sit and think.

The Churchyards Handbook gives practical advice on all aspects of churchyard management and will be of use to parish priests, churchwardens and archdeacons as well as those involved with the funeral business.

The Handbook explains the law relating to churchyards and offers constructive guidance on the difficult subjects of memorials and cremated remains. The proper care of the archaeology and history of churchyards is discussed, as is the importance of the churchyard as a haven for wildlife.