St. Mary the Virgin, Isles of Scilly.

Everyone is very welcome to attend any of our acts of worship within the parish. The main service in each of the island churches will either be Holy Communion or a Service of the Word. At our Communion services, Christians of all denominations who would normally receive the Sacrament are very welcome to receive it with us. We do hope that you will come and share our worship of God, whether you be young or old, islander or visitor, regular or first-timer! Our services are designed to be easy to follow; we have printed service booklets and hymnbooks, which are both available in large print if you prefer.

Baptisms (Christenings) in our Island Churches

Baptism, whether of infants or adults, marks the start of a faith journey within the Church. At Baptism we become members of God's Church and disciples of Christ. We commit ourselves to God and make serious promises about the direction of our life. We promise to worship God, to learn more about him and his ways and to follow the example of his Son, Jesus. In infant baptism parents and godparents promise to bring children up in the Church, to help them to grow in faith, to bring them to worship God and to care for his world and everything and everyone in it.

The Church wants to help new members to keep these promises they have made. We welcome children of all ages (see Children in Church), and provide welcome bags and activities if required.

Isles of Scilly Churchyard Policy

• The incumbent, together with the P.C.C., has the responsibility to maintain the churchyards of St. Agnes, St. Martin’s, St. Nicholas Tresco, All Saints’ Bryher and Old Town Church St. Mary’s. The churchyards on St. Agnes, St. Martin’s, Bryher and Tresco are open for burials, Old Town churchyard is closed for burials as it is full, but there is provision for burials in the adjacent council-owned and run cemetery. (For further information about Old Town Cemetery, please contact the Council of the Isles of Scilly.)

• The incumbent and P.C.C. adhere to the Diocesan Guidelines for Churchyards and Monuments published by the Diocesan Registrar. (Copies attached and displayed in each church/churchyard.)
• The incumbent and P.C.C. recognises its responsibility in law to permit the burials of residents of the Isles and those who have died within the parish in the islands’ churchyards.
• The incumbent and P.C.C. are aware that the islands are special to many people who are non-resident, some of who may wish to be interred here.
• The incumbent and P.C.C. wishes to be pastorally sensitive to those planning their own funeral arrangements and to their grieving relations.
• The P.C.C. has come to the view that, in order to preserve the very beauty and peace of the island churchyards which so many appreciate, restrictions now need to be placed on the erection of monuments following the interment of non-residents in the island’s churchyards.

Policy (*residents of the Isles of Scilly)

• The term "*resident" means those whose main residence is on the Isles of Scilly, and who, therefore, spend the majority of the year on the Isles.
• All who die on the Isles, or whose main residence at the time of death is on the Isles, have the right to be interred here (burial or interment of ashes) and to have a monument
• In the case of people who have had strong historical links with the Isles, including a long period of residency (at least 10 years), the P.C.C. may agree to a request for an island burial, but this is solely at the discretion of the P.C.C., who will judge each case individually on its merits.
• Former residents of the Isles who can demonstrate strong historical links or existing residents may wish to pursue the option of reserving a burial plot by faculty to guarantee their right to burial on the Isles. The P.C.C. and Diocesan Registrar would need to agree to the application to reserve a plot.

• In the case of someone who is buried at sea off Scilly, or lost at sea, a monument may be placed in one of the churchyards with the agreement of the Chaplain.

Policy (non-residents of the Isles of Scilly)

• Non-residents who die whilst on the Isles have the right to burial on the Isles and a monument.
• Non-residents who are lost at sea around Scilly, with or without the recovery of mortal remains, may have burial (if appropriate) and a monument.
• Non-residents who wish their ashes to be interred in the island churchyards may request this, but may not erect a monument. All enquiries should be made to the Chaplain, who will do his best to accommodate all such requests.
• Non-residents whose remains are interred elsewhere may not erect a monument.

The P.C.C. reserves the right to refuse requests for interment (burial or interment of ashes) and the erection of monuments subject to the policy above, and to review and/or to amend the policy regularly.

This policy was adopted unanimously by the P.C.C. on 4th September 2007 and renewed in 2021.