As we prepare for the formal launch of the North East Funerary Heritage Group (NEFHG) this Wednesday at Newcastle Cathedral, we’re thrilled to see growing interest in the initiative, highlighted in a recent piece by Cultured. North East: “Graveyard Preservation Network to Launch in Newcastle.” Read the article.
The article captures the motivation behind NEFHG: to bring together a diverse network of individuals and organisations working to preserve, research, and engage with the region’s burial spaces and funerary heritage. Whether your interest is in social history, community archives, conservation, or contemporary engagement, NEFHG aims to support and connect your efforts.
Our launch event on 23 July 2025 will introduce the group’s goals, share the draft governance and strategic framework, and open the floor to discussion about what our shared future could look like. Panel discussions and workshops will explore key opportunities and challenges, and there will be space for networking and collaboration.
This is just the beginning. As the article notes, there’s a real appetite for coordination, practical support, and sharing of knowledge—from how to care for a gravestone to how to interpret burial landscapes. We hope NEFHG will become a hub for this kind of exchange.
If you’re planning to attend the launch, we look forward to seeing you there. If you’re just learning about us now, please explore the website, become a member, and consider how you might like to be involved.
Together, we can make funerary heritage more visible, valued, and better connected across the North East.
