Anglican Church to close old cemeteries

THE Anglican Church will close five cemeteries before new laws come into effect to expand the length of time after the last burial before a graveyard can be shut.

The St Stephens Church at Penguin.

THE Anglican Church will close five old cemeteries before new laws come into effect to significantly expand the length of time after the last burial before a graveyard can be shut.

The closures come as a final decision approaches on which churches and properties the church will sell to fund its redress commitments.

The Trustees of the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania are advertising this weekend that the graveyards will be closed while the church is still their manager.

Only one, St Stephen’s cemetery in Penguin, is attached to a church on the list of those proposed for sale.

The others are St Andrew’s cemetery in Sprent, the graveyard at St Mary Magdalene Church in George Town, St Mark’s cemetery in Deloraine and Montagu cemetery in the state’s far North-West.

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The church said it was unaware of any interments taking place in the listed cemeteries in the past 30 years.

Nor is it aware of any person holding an exclusive right to be buried in them in the future.

“However, if any person believes they may have an exclusive right of burial at any of these cemeteries, or requires further information regarding their closure, please contact the Anglican Dioceses immediately,” the public notice says.

The divestment of cemeteries comes as the Government’s Burial and Cremation Amendment Bill passed the Lower House and heads to the Legislative Council for debate.

The Bill was introduced in response to significant community concern surrounding the potential sale of properties with cemeteries attached.

Under the proposed changes, cemeteries will not be able to be closed until 100 years after the last burial — up from the current 30 years.

More than 100 Anglican Church properties have been slated for sale, including 79 churches.

A final list of what properties will go to market will be finalised by the church next month.

Attorney-General Elise Archer said the legislation was an important step in preserving, protecting and, where appropriate, strengthening the rights of community members and cemetery managers.

But Anglican Bishop Richard Condie has argued the changes will push up the cost of burials in its cemeteries to between $10,000 and $15,000 because managers would need to plan for 100 years of expenditure.