Whether you are arranging a funeral for a loved one, planning for your own future, or searching for historical family records, this form is the required first step.
As part of the Sydney Anglican Diocese, our care for these grounds reflects our Christian faith and our belief in the hope of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We view looking after this site as an important duty, caring for families while preserving the resting places in our trust. As custodians of a colonial burial ground established in 1810, where new earth plots were closed in 1970, we also follow strict National Trust heritage requirements.
Understanding This Form
We recognise that this form asks for a lot of detail and requires careful attention. We know that dealing with paperwork can be tough, especially when you are grieving or organising an estate.
However, every plot, niche reservation, and historical record search at St Matthew’s must follow the laws of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 (NSW). Completing these preliminary questions accurately allows us to handle your request correctly, protect our historic site, and confirm your legal rights.
By filling out this form, you are starting a formal administrative process. We ask that you provide accurate information so we can help you efficiently. In return, our Parish Administration promises to process your request clearly, fairly, and with care. Once we review your enquiry, we will explain the next steps, provide clear details on costs, and send you a secure link to upload your certified identity documents.
Governance and Triage Process
The Parish Council and Wardens oversee the historic cemetery and columbarium, ensuring we follow the rules set by Cemeteries & Crematoria NSW (CCNSW) and the National Trust. Day-to-day administration and record-keeping are handled by our Parish Administration on behalf of the Sydney Anglican Diocese.
Because St Matthew’s is a historic site with high public interest, we review all enquiries based on urgency and legal requirements.
Please note that the review times listed below are target estimates, not fixed legal deadlines. While we aim to process every submission as quickly as possible, heritage record checks can sometimes take extra time. These timeframes cover the review of this initial enquiry form only. After this review, our team will send you a secure link to upload your certified documents, which starts your official application.
Estimated Response Times
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Immediate Need for Ashes and In-ground Burials (At-Need): Within 3 business days.
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Future Planning (Pre-Need) & Updating Existing Niche Details (Post-1970): Within 14 business days.
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Verifying Historic Columbarium Niches (Reserved Prior to 1970): Within 21 business days.
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Verifying Historic Graveyard Plots (Reserved Prior to 1970) & General Register Searches: Within 1 month.
Document Certification Requirements
To keep our Cemetery Register accurate and meet NSW laws, St Matthew’s requires certified true copies of all supporting records, deeds, and identity documents. NSW rules state that cemetery operators must verify the identity and authority of everyone applying for or updating a Perpetual Interment Right.
To meet these standards and protect your family's rights, we only accept documents certified by:
Every certified page must clearly state that it is a "true and accurate copy of the original", signed and dated by the certifier with their registration number and official stamp. We cannot accept plain photocopies, uncertified scans, or standard photos.
Privacy and Personal Information
St Matthew’s Anglican Church Windsor (ABN 38 838 687 145) collects your personal information to meet cemetery laws under the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 (NSW). We use this information to process your request, issue or check Perpetual Interment Rights, maintain our official register, offer pastoral care, and complete standard reporting.
Providing personal details for regular church activities is optional, but providing accurate details for cemetery matters is mandatory under NSW law. Without this information, we cannot legally process your application, confirm historical claims, or record your rights.
Your personal information is kept safe on Australian servers using our Elvanto management software. We may send you church updates, but you can opt out or unsubscribe at any time. We do not share your information with outside parties unless required by law, such as official record audits by Cemeteries & Crematoria NSW (CCNSW).
You can contact us anytime to ask questions, request access to your records, or ask for corrections to your information using our online personal information request form.