The Archdiocese of Liverpool operates three Catholic Cemeteries in addition to graveyards operated by parishes.
New graves for the exclusive right of burial and cremated remains plots may be purchased.
The details of the current availability for our three cemeteries are:
Sacred Heart Cemetery, Ainsdale: new graves for burial are available for both immediate use and can also be reserved. Cremated remains plots are available.
Ford Cemetery: new graves for burial are available but for immediate use only (we are no longer able to reserve plots). Cremated remains plots are available.
Yew Tree Cemetery: no new graves for burial are available, only cremated remains plots can be purchased.
Click download to see our current charges and to explore purchasing a grave, contact us.
For the re-opening of an existing grave the applicant via their funeral director is required to complete a notice of interment and must produce the grave deed.
Transfer of the exclusive right of burial may take place using a transfer form if the owner is alive. If the owner is deceased, the transfer of ownership may be supported by an official document such as a grant of probate or grant of letters of administration. In the absence of these legal documents, ownership may be transferred making use of a Statutory Declaration. The responsibility for arranging the Statutory Declaration will be the person or persons entitled to the transfer of ownership.
A date and time will be booked and confirmed to the undertaker and family by the cemeteries team.
Families wishing to erect a memorial should approach their BRAMM registered mason of choice to purchase a memorial within the specifications set out in cemetery regulations below and instruct the mason regarding the lettering.
1. The right of burial is granted subject to the decrees and canons of the Catholic Church.
2. Cemeteries are open Monday – Friday from 9am to 4pm except between October and March when they close at 3.30pm. There is no access for vehicles at weekends or on bank holidays.
3. Memorials are the responsibility of the owner of the right of burial and the Archdiocese of Liverpool accepts no responsibility for their safety and security. The right is reserved to move or take away any memorial which has been allowed to deteriorate and become a possible danger to visitors.
4. Only lawn type memorials are allowed and must fit on the concrete base provided. The maximum specifications for headstones, including base sections, are: Height 107cm (3’ 6”) Width 99cm (3’ 3”) All work carried out in the cemetery must be undertaken by BRAMM registered monumental masons to ensure that national standards are met.
5. Anything that hinders proper maintenance of the cemetery is not permitted. Examples are wooden memorials, crosses, statues, chains, or fences around graves. Similarly, vases, flowers, plants, trees, ornaments, gravel, and kerbstones are not permitted outside the area of the headstone. The right is reserved to remove any monuments or ornaments which the cemetery superintendent or other person authorised for the purposes in their absolute discretion considers to be inappropriate. Existing kerbstones will not be replaced after an interment so that eventually the cemetery will be completely lawned.
6. The cemetery is private property owned by the Archdiocese of Liverpool. The right is reserved to exclude any person from the cemetery whose conduct is judged inappropriate by the cemetery superintendent or other persons authorised for the purpose. No dogs are permitted within the cemetery. The owner of the right of burial accepts that it may not be possible to make all areas of the cemetery available for public and disabled access.
7. The right is reserved to amend or add to these regulations at any time.
The Archdiocese of Liverpool’s cemeteries were establishedduring the 19th century, a time when burial grounds were being moved away fromdensely populated urban areas due to public health concerns. As citiesexpanded, churchyards became overcrowded, and new cemeteries were createdbeyond the city boundaries to provide safe and respectful places for burial.
Ford Cemetery, opened in March 1855, was the first of the Archdiocese’s cemeteries. It was established when St Anthony’s graveyard became full, prompting Fr Newsham to purchase 22 acres of land to meet the growing need. Since then, Ford Cemetery has become a significant site of remembrance, with over 340,000 burials. It is also home to a number of historic graves, including war memorials, survivors of the Titanic, and Father James Nugent, the founder of Nugent Care.
Sacred Heart Cemetery in Ainsdale opened in 1893, followed by Yew Tree Cemetery in 1894, further expanding burial provision for the Catholic community across the region.
Today, while burial space varies across our sites, all three cemeteries continue to serve as important places of reflection, remembrance, and prayer. In addition to traditional burials, there remains provision for cremated remains, ensuring that these sacred spaces continue to meet the needs of our communities.
Finch Lane
Knotty Ash
Liverpool
L14 4AQ
Open 24 hours
No reserves
Note: No water facilities
Liverpool Road
Ainsdale
Merseyside
PR8 3BP
Note: no vehicle access
No water facilities
Sterrix Lane
Ford
Liverpool
L21 0DD
Open 24 hours
No reserves
