An article in today's Daily Telegraph reports that Garden Gnomes have been banned from cemeteries by a church diocese because leaders say they are "unnatural creatures".
The gnomes, along with plastic flowers and other decorations such as teddy bears, have been called "inappropriate" and tacky by the Diocese of Bath and Wells.
The church banned the garden figures from Wrington and Congresbury cemeteries in Somerset, and have said they will remove any that they find as part of new guidelines issued by the Chancellor of the Diocese, Worshipful Timothy Briden.
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?"
The spokesman added: "Things such as gnomes and plastic flowers are not permitted because they are aesthetically unattractive and they make it harder to maintain the grounds.
"The historic churchyards are part of Somerset and we want to keep them tidy and safe.
"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."
The decision to ban the gnomes and statues has been met with criticism from the community however.
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.
What do you think:
Here is one comment to the newspaper:
So gnomes are banned because they are unnatural (i.e. don't exist) yet angel-figurines are accepted? Can anyone explain the logic in that?
Since when are angels considered to be a part of the natural world?
Has there been a recent excavation of fossilised angel-bones complete with wings?
Methinks the whole concept of christianity is based on the irrational belief in unnatural beings.
Never mind the aesthetic quality of depictions and statues, which I think are the quintessential archetypes of "tackyness".
Leave the gnomes alone!
huncamunca
Do they only believe when they see the things? So, they don't believe in angels, God, the wind, etc. There are so many important matters to worry, in my humble opinion. the gnomes are so cute, doesn't hurt anybody. They ornment the gardesns too.
cheers
sandra