Advisory Panel on the Archaeology
of Christian Burials in England (APACBE)

Pursuant to the publication of Guidance on Best Practice for Treatment of Human Remains Excavated From Christian Burial Grounds in England in 2005 by English Heritage and the Church of England, an Advisory Panel has been set up to provide supporting advice to this document and to facilitate the progress of policy and strategy relating to this field. The Advisory Panel is sponsored by the Church of England, English Heritage and the Ministry of Justice. Each of these organisations has statutory or legal responsibilities relating to the archaeology of Christian burials in England.

The Panel will either give advice itself or refer the enquirer to the relevant expert organisation or individual(s). This advice is free and open to all. Enquirers are encouraged to use electronic methods of communication (e-mails, Word and PDF attachments, etc). Contact:

Latest Update

Consultation to replace APACBE with another Panel to give advice on all archaeological burials in England (Christian and non-Christian)
English Heritage, the Church of England and the Ministry of Justice are proposing dissolving APACBE and replacing it with another Panel which would give advice on all archaeological burials in England (Christian and non-Christian). The proposal is currently out for consultation; for the consultation details and how to comment, download the document (PDF 51KB).

Minutes of the 4^th Annual Meeting available for download. See Minutes

Navigation

• Terms of Reference
• Membership
• Latest
• Minutes
• Links

Terms of Reference

1. The purpose of the Panel is to provide well-informed advice on the archaeological treatment of Christian burials in England and related matters, with appropriate consideration of relevant religious, ethical, legal, archaeological and scientific issues.
2. The Panel may give advice on specific matters and may also advise and comment on general issues of principle or policy.
3. The Panel will liaise as necessary with any other relevant advisory committees which may be set up, and will take account of any guidance documents or codes of practice which may be promulgated by other organisations.

Membership

Standing committee

• Joseph Elders, Chair (Cathedral & Church Buildings Division, Church of England)
• Simon Mays, Secretary (English Heritage)
• Robert Clifford (Ministry of Justice)
• Timothy Ellis (Bishop of Grantham)
• Jonathan Goodchild (Cathedral & Church Buildings Division, Church of England)
• Sebastian Payne (English Heritage)

Consultative Forum

• David Baker (Association of Diocesan and Cathedral Archaeologists, Council for British Archaeology)
• Angela Boyle (Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division)
• Maurice Davies (Museums Association)
• Phillip Dixon (Cathedrals Archaeologist)
• Louise Humphrey (Natural History Museum)
• Andrew Lane (Southwark Diocesan Advisory Committee)
• Julian Litten (Church Monuments Society)
• Jacqueline McKinley (Wessex Archaeology)
• Alexandra Nickell (Cathedral & Church Buildings Division, Church of England)
• Jane Sidell (English Heritage)
• Barney Sloane (English Heritage)
• Alison Taylor (Institute of Field Archaeologists)
• David Turner (QC, Chancellor of Chester Diocese)
• William White (Museum of London Specialist Services)

Latest

Casework Examples

• Consultation to replace APACBE with another Panel to give advice on all archaeological burials in England (Christian and non-Christian) (PDF 51KB)
• Advice on on the treatment of human remains from the site of the Baltic Exchange
• Query about the treatment of human remains following ALGAO day
• Application to the Advisory Panel for the Archaeology of Christian Burials in England; Holton-le-Clay St Peter

Minutes

These can be obtained from Simon Mays. Copies of the following minutes are available:

• 28^th November 2008 (4^th Annual Meeting, PDF 25KB)
• 30^th November 2007 (3^rd Annual Meeting)
• 24^th November 2006 (2^nd Annual Meeting)
• 21^st October 2005 (inaugural meeting)

Links

• English Heritage: www.english-heritage.org.uk
• Church of England: www.cofe.anglican.org/about/builtheritage
• Ministry of Justice: www.justice.gov.uk
• Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums: www.culture.gov.uk/cultural_property/hr_uk_institutions
• DCMS Working Group on Human Remains report: www.culture.gov.uk/global/publications/archive_2003/wgur_report2003.htm
• Department for Constitutional Affairs - Burials and Cemeteries Advisory Group: www.dca.gov.uk/corbur/buria01.htm
• Association of Diocesan and Cathedral Archaeologists: www.britarch.ac.uk/adca

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Background image from Minerva Stone Conservation

Page last updated 18 December 2007 by Seren Langley