Fourteen real questions, with plain answers.
These are the questions we are actually asked, on the phone, on a Saturday morning, and in letters. If yours isn’t here, please write.
Who was Lady Clementina I Tottenham?
She was a woman from Burton, Dorset, who in the spring of 1959 wrote a short will leaving a sum in trust for the maintenance of the churchyard of St Luke’s, Burton. Her will was proved on 27 October 1961. The trust was registered with the Charity Commission shortly afterwards, under the number 220026.
Is this a real charity?
Yes. We are a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 220026, with four trustees and a public filing that you can read on the Charity Commission register.
How small is small?
Very small. Our annual cash flow in the year ended 31 December 2024 was £27 in and £27 out. The actual work in the churchyard at St Luke’s is supported by volunteer hours, parish funds and small donations on top of the bequest’s own figure. The bequest is the steady drip beneath the bigger flow.
Why is your annual income only £27?
The bequest holds a permanent endowment — a small capital sum, held under the terms of Lady Clementina’s will — that produces a very small annual interest. The principal must be preserved for the long term; we only spend the income.
Can I donate to a specific programme?
Yes. Every one of our six programmes has a separate budget line. Tell us in the comments box on the donate page which programme you would like to support, and we will allocate your gift accordingly. Restricted gifts are reported separately in our annual report.
Can I leave a legacy to the bequest?
Yes, and we are very glad of legacies. Please write to [email protected] and we will send a short note for you and your solicitor.
Can you maintain a grave for me?
Yes, subject to capacity. We do not take on commercial grave-maintenance contracts, but the trustees will consider any approach from a family with a memorial at St Luke’s. Please write to us first.
Do you maintain churchyards other than St Luke’s?
No. Lady Clementina’s will is specific to the churchyard of St Luke’s, Burton; we cannot, in good faith, take on other churchyards. If you write to us about a different churchyard we will reply, with thanks, and try to point you to the right local trust.
How do I volunteer?
Either email [email protected], fill in the short form on the volunteer page, or come to the next Hedgerow Sunday — 09.30 at the lych-gate. There are no forms to fill in on the day.
Is there a minimum donation?
No. The smallest gift we have received was £1.20 from a child at the village primary school, and her name is on the brass plate beneath the eaves of the lych-gate alongside the larger gifts.
Do you claim Gift Aid?
Yes. Our HMRC Gift Aid reference is on file. There is a Gift Aid declaration on the donate page, or you may download the paper form from our resources page.
How can I attend the annual yew measurement?
It is open to anyone. The 2026 yew measurement is at 09.00 on Saturday 18 July at the south yew, St Luke’s. Bring a folding chair if you would like one, and a hat if it is sunny.
Can you put up a memorial bench for my relative?
No — this falls outside our charitable objects. The faculty for benches in the churchyard sits with the parish church council, who decide on placement and design with diocesan oversight. We will gladly help you ask the right questions.
How do I complain about something the bequest has done?
Write to the chair of trustees at 6 Holly Gardens, Burton, Christchurch BH23 7JD. We will reply within ten working days. If you remain dissatisfied, you may refer the complaint to the Charity Commission. If your complaint concerns data protection, you may also write to the ICO.