Archaeological Management of Historic Church Burials: Policy Gaps, Cross-Sector Needs, and Recommendations for England and Wales, 2026

Nugent, Ruth ORCID: 0000-0001-6323-9527, Phillips, Reanna, Foster, Katherine, Daubney, Adam, Butler, James, Fitzgerald, Thomas, Hampson, Louise, Cahilly-Bretzin, Glenn and Bullock [Welsh Translator], David (2026) Archaeological Management of Historic Church Burials: Policy Gaps, Cross-Sector Needs, and Recommendations for England and Wales, 2026 [Report]

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Executive Summary

This report reviews the current law, policy, and guidance governing the excavation, analysis, and reburial of archaeological human remains and burial artefacts in churches in England and Wales. Drawing on interviews and focus groups with 40 professionals, it identifies major gaps in existing guidance, divergent ethical positions, and practical challenges faced by those working with church burials. Participants consistently described the guidance landscape as fragmented, difficult to navigate, and unevenly applied across regions and denominations. Ethical views on reburial, retention, and display varied widely, and the management of burial artefacts emerged as one of the least consistently guided areas. The report recommends developing dedicated guidance for Wales; creating a central hub to signpost existing policy; establishing clearer ethical and practical criteria for decision making; and improving communication, training, and cross sector collaboration.

Item Type:	Report
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Archaeology, Heritage, Church, Burial, Policy
Divisions:	Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Histories, Languages and Cultures Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Histories, Languages and Cultures > Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	10 Aug 2026 10:33
Last Modified:	14 Aug 2026 09:55
DOI:	10.17638/03199802
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3199802
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