Cemetery Policy and Trust Agreement History
Recorded history of Grafton Christian Church states that the cemetery policy was first established on February 20, 1891. The church sexton was paid $1 to dig graves which were laid off in numbered lots. (There are a number of burials that predate the establishment of the first cemetery policy of 1891.)
On January 21, 1959 cemetery rules and regulations were updated and adopted by the Board.
The next revision approved by the Board was October 16, 1968 and raised burial fees for non-church members from $35 to $100 per grave. The following eligibility rules governing burials without fees were adopted: The candidate for burial shall
a. be a church member on the roll of the Grafton Christian Church or
b. if non-church member, shall be related to a member or
c. if non-church member shall be a descendant of a person buried in the cemetery.
On January 22, 1969 cemetery regulations with minor modifications were unanimously approved by the Board.
At the Board meeting on April 19, 1972 it was reported there was vandalism to the cemetery at a cost of $150 to restore. Seventeen stones were overturned. Sheriff White advised that if someone is injured by loose stones we would be liable.
At the Board meeting on March 6, 1974 recommendations were heard to establish the trust fund for perpetual care of the cemetery. On March 31, 1974 the Board accepted the proposed cemetery trust. On May 1, 1974 five cemetery trustees were appointed by the board. The circuit court confirmed this action in April 22, 1975.
In the spring of 1985 the church board gave the Cemetery Trust committee the authority to proceed with using the part of section B previously reserved for a church addition.
On November 11, 2002 during the Board meeting Brian Woodward proposed that the Cemetery Trust continue to be responsible for cutting all grass on the church grounds and that $975 already dispersed from building and maintenance funds be returned. The motion was passed.
On February 23, 2003 at the Board meeting under old business Brian Woodward questioned why there had not been reimbursement by the Cemetery Trust to the church maintenance fund as previously approved by the board. Grayson Fox, Cemetery Trustee, stated that according to the trust agreement the Cemetery Trustees had no authority to cut grass or pay for anything other than cemetery expenses. Dennis Rollins, Cemetery Trustee, was asked to speak and agreed with Grayson. Per Kistler moved to update church bylaws and the cemetery trust agreement. The motioned was passed by majority of the Board.
During the Congregational meeting of December 7, 2003 Ted Antoniewicz reported that the Church Trustees had reached an agreement with the Cemetery Trustees that the church would provide maintenance of the grounds for the church and education building excluding the cemetery. The Cemetery Trustees would continue to provide maintenance of the cemetery as defined by the trust agreement.
On September 14, 2014 the cemetery policy was amended by the Cemetery Trustees with the following amendment effective October 1, 2014. Non-member cremated relatives of those buried in the cemetery are eligible to be buried in the same plot as their relatives for a fee of $950.
A church congregational meeting was held on November 4, 2018 and at that time the updated cemetery policy was approved. Changes in the policy became effective January 1, 2019.
Recorded history of Grafton Christian Church states that the cemetery policy was first established on February 20, 1891. The church sexton was paid $1 to dig graves which were laid off in numbered lots. (There are a number of burials that predate the establishment of the first cemetery policy of 1891.)
On January 21, 1959 cemetery rules and regulations were updated and adopted by the Board.
The next revision approved by the Board was October 16, 1968 and raised burial fees for non-church members from $35 to $100 per grave. The following eligibility rules governing burials without fees were adopted: The candidate for burial shall
a. be a church member on the roll of the Grafton Christian Church or
b. if non-church member, shall be related to a member or
c. if non-church member shall be a descendant of a person buried in the cemetery.
On January 22, 1969 cemetery regulations with minor modifications were unanimously approved by the Board.
At the Board meeting on April 19, 1972 it was reported there was vandalism to the cemetery at a cost of $150 to restore. Seventeen stones were overturned. Sheriff White advised that if someone is injured by loose stones we would be liable.
At the Board meeting on March 6, 1974 recommendations were heard to establish the trust fund for perpetual care of the cemetery. On March 31, 1974 the Board accepted the proposed cemetery trust. On May 1, 1974 five cemetery trustees were appointed by the board. The circuit court confirmed this action in April 22, 1975.
In the spring of 1985 the church board gave the Cemetery Trust committee the authority to proceed with using the part of section B previously reserved for a church addition.
On November 11, 2002 during the Board meeting Brian Woodward proposed that the Cemetery Trust continue to be responsible for cutting all grass on the church grounds and that $975 already dispersed from building and maintenance funds be returned. The motion was passed.
On February 23, 2003 at the Board meeting under old business Brian Woodward questioned why there had not been reimbursement by the Cemetery Trust to the church maintenance fund as previously approved by the board. Grayson Fox, Cemetery Trustee, stated that according to the trust agreement the Cemetery Trustees had no authority to cut grass or pay for anything other than cemetery expenses. Dennis Rollins, Cemetery Trustee, was asked to speak and agreed with Grayson. Per Kistler moved to update church bylaws and the cemetery trust agreement. The motioned was passed by majority of the Board.
During the Congregational meeting of December 7, 2003 Ted Antoniewicz reported that the Church Trustees had reached an agreement with the Cemetery Trustees that the church would provide maintenance of the grounds for the church and education building excluding the cemetery. The Cemetery Trustees would continue to provide maintenance of the cemetery as defined by the trust agreement.
On September 14, 2014 the cemetery policy was amended by the Cemetery Trustees with the following amendment effective October 1, 2014. Non-member cremated relatives of those buried in the cemetery are eligible to be buried in the same plot as their relatives for a fee of $950.
A church congregational meeting was held on November 4, 2018 and at that time the updated cemetery policy was approved. Changes in the policy became effective January 1, 2019.