A Stoke-on-Trent church is consulting local residents over a proposal to re-use parts of its churchyard for new burials.

The proposals at St Matthias Church in Hanford would allow graves more than 70 years old to be ‘over-buried’ with new ones and would mainly affect the area known as ‘The Field’ to the north of the church.

Since the Middle Ages the practice of graves overlying or cutting into each other has been regarded as normal and theologically acceptable as a natural incident of churchyard management. The practice is particularly common in older churches.

In ecclesiastical terms, the Grade II St Matthias Church is relatively new, dating from the Victorian era. Until now it hasn’t been necessary to consider re-using graves but the churchyard is fast becoming full and could soon be formally closed to new burials.

Available burial space throughout the country is fast running out and the government predicts that all designated burial space in England and Wales will be full within 30 years unless changes are made. The government has proposed that local authority cemeteries adopt the process of re-using old graves, similar to that used within Church of England churchyards.

The Rev Martin Oram, Resident Minister of Hanford, said the church council and the church congregation had been carefully considering this option for some time and now wanted to consult more widely with local people.

He said: "In the years I’ve been here many people have stopped me on the street and asked if they can reserve space to be buried in our churchyard. My answer has always had to be that it’s a matter of 'first come, first served' as no places can be reserved.

"Very shortly our churchyard will be full, and we will have no more space for burials. Space is also limited for the burial of cremated remains. Because of the desire expressed by so many to be buried here, we are considering a process called 'over-burying'."

In local authority cemeteries, families and next of kin would historically buy grave spaces but in recent years local authorities have switched to leasing space instead. In Stoke on Trent’s cemeteries, grave spaces are usually leased for 25 years.

The situation is different in churchyards, where a burial gives no right of ownership or lease to the next of kin. The entire churchyard, including areas where burials have taken place, is legally owned by the vicar or rector.

As ‘over burial’ is a standard practice in churchyards, a faculty (church planning permission) is not required. The decision will be taken by the church council in consultation with Rev Oram and local vicar Nigel di Castiglione.