There's no RIP for garden gnomes
London Telegraph
| 12 Nov 2008
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Garden gnomes have been banned from cemeteries in an English diocese because they are "unnatural creatures".
The gnomes, along with plastic flowers and teddy bears, have been called "inappropriate and tacky" by the Diocese of Bath and Wells.
The diocese has banned the garden figures from Wrington and Congresbury cemeteries in Somerset, under new guidelines issued by the Chancellor.
A spokesman for the Diocese of Bath and Wells said: "There is no such thing as a real gnome so why should we have such unnatural creatures in churchyards?
"Gnomes and plastic flowers are not permitted because they are aesthetically unattractive and they make it harder to maintain the grounds.
"If people want their loved ones to be buried in one of our churchyards then they have to stick to the rules which are clearly displayed at all churchyards."
But the decision has met with criticism from the community.
Hollie Richards, 24, who has lived in Congresbury all her life and has two grandparents, an uncle and an aunt buried in St Andrew's churchyard in the cemetery, said: "People should be free to put what they want around the gravestones as it is down to personal preference."
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