History
In May 1952, a petition was made to the then Bishop of Winchester by the Vicar and Church-wardens of Bitterne Park Parish stating that it had become necessary to provide an area of consecrated ground to be formed into a Garden of Remembrance for the interment of the cremated remains of people of the Parish. It was requested that an area of the churchyard of the Church of the Ascension, which had been laid out with shrubs and flowering plants and not then consecrated, should be annexed for this purpose and set apart from all common and profane uses. It was not until June 1960 that the Garden was consecrated and formalised by the Notary Public-Registrar.
Over the years, the Garden has been a haven of peace, where relatives and friends have come to feel close to the souls of their departed loved ones. Other bereaved people take the opportunity from time to time to visit the Garden.
Loose Interment
The loose interment of ashes in the Garden of Remembrance has never meant the allocation of an individual plot. At the simple, solemn service in the Garden, the cremated remains are emptied gently from the casket into the soil. The cremated remains of well over 1000 people have been loosely interred there. Because of limited space in the Garden, it would not be possible to bury caskets and allocate named plots. If this option is required,bereaved families should discuss this with the Cremation Service at the Registrar’s Office in Bugle Street, Southampton, who may be able to provide this facility.
Retaining the beauty of the Garden
The intention has always been to retain the simplicity of the garden with well-tended lawns and tastful planting, with the understanding that any personalised items, which would be of no meaning to the majority of bereaved people, would destroy the simplicity. We regret that no vases, ornaments, plaques, artificial flowers or plants may be placed on the soil or grass in the Garden.
It is appreciated that people will wish to commemorate anniversaries and special events in the life of their departed ones and it is respectfully requested that only a small posy of fresh flowers be placed on the soil.
You may like to consider having the name(s) of your loved ones, whose ashes have been loosely interred in the Garden, included in the Book of Remembrance which has been started and will be displayed in the Church of the Ascension. Please contact us for an application form.
A Prayer
Lord Jesus, you prayed a while in a
garden before you suffered death on
a cross. Thank you for this garden
here, where I may stop a while and
pray for those I love but see no
longer. Thank you for them and for
the memories I treasure.
Give me grace to follow in their
footsteps knowing how much you
love me, and guide me to know
more of you until I, too,come to
that eternal rest, where you gather
all in Christ, and I may enjoy with
them the fullness of life eternal,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Contact may be made, if wished, with the Vicar (Tel.No. 023 8055 1560);
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