RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Cockneyrebel on Monday 04 May 15 17:39 BST (UK)
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I've been researching burials with deceased online and quite a few burials say that they're in unconsecrated ground in a cemetery -does this mean that the person was a criminal or committed suicide, or is there another reason?
Cr
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In cemeteries Consecrated Burial Grounds are Church of England. Non-Conformists are un-consecrated.
Stan
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I should have asked are you talking about church yards or cemeteries? And when?
Stan
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Usually in the 1800's I've found them-so Methodists, Baptists, etc, were in unconsecrated grounds?
Cr
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Many non-conformists were buried in C of E graveyards too.
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A parish had to allow burials for all residents of a parish regardless of their religious beliefs. The C of E Burial service was not used for non conformists but certainly non conformists could have been buried in the churchyard. Cemeteries [often in the ownership of local authorities] and private cemeteries eg Brookwood provide plots for various faiths.
At one stage suicides were not buried in consecrated ground and were even buried outside of the churchyard boundary wall.
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I've been to a cemetery where the non-christians were buried in unconsecrated ground to the side of the cemetery. In there case the only issue was their religion. Some of them we dug up and shipped back to their native country for correct reburial and unfortunately the ship sank in bad weather!
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Before 1880 no body could be buried in consecrated ground except with the service of the Church, which the incumbent of the parish or a person authorized by him was bound to perform; but the canons and prayer-book refused the use of the office for excommunicated persons, for some grievous and notorious crime, and no person able to testify of his repentance, unbaptised persons, and persons against whom a verdict of felo de se had been found. An 1823 statute legalized the burial of suicides in consecrated ground, but religious services were not permitted until 1882.
It was not until the Burial Laws Amendment Act 1880, that facilities were granted to non-conformist (i.e.dissenting) ministers to carry out burials in the C of E churchyard, not using the rites of the Church of England, but those of the particular denomination involved.
Stan
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A parish had to allow burials for all residents of a parish regardless of their religious beliefs.
A parishioner, wherever he may die, has the right to be buried in the churchyard, or other burial ground, of his own parish; a non-parishioner, whose name is on the church electoral roll of the parish, has the right to be buried in the churchyard, or other burial ground, of the parish ; and a non-parishioner has the right to be buried in the churchyard, or other burial ground, of the parish where he dies. Other persons may not be buried there without the consent of the incumbent, who must have regard to any general guidance given by the parochial church council.
Stan
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Thank you all very much, you have greatly enlightened me on the subject.
Cr
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Hi everyone, I have just found out that one of my relatives who died in 1972 is recorded as being buried in unconsecrated ground. Why would this have happened.
Many thanks
Ann
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Because they were not of the Church of England religion. They may not have been baptised when a baby or not practised any faith at all or practised a non conformist religion.
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But what about some of the big Local Authority cemeteries in Liverpool for example?
They have sections for different denominations, and some of the big cemeteries still have large sections currently unused. Does someone consecrate an Acre at a time, so to speak?
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But what about some of the big Local Authority cemeteries in Liverpool for example?
They have sections for different denominations, and some of the big cemeteries still have large sections currently unused. Does someone consecrate an Acre at a time, so to speak?
Unused ground laid aside for C of E burials will have been consecrated even though it is not yet used.
Land set aside for other religions will be consecrated as and when needed.
Some religions consecrate the burial plot just before the burial takes place.
The subject is complicated as it varies depending on the religion.
For example the section put aside for Roman Catholic burials may have been consecrated by the church previously or if not the priest may bless the grave before the burial. If it is not possible for a priest to be in attendance there is provision to put blessed earth into the coffin.
Jewish burial plots are normally bought in the person’s lifetime and consecrated for the specific purpose.
In many Jewish cemeteries it is customary not to bury a woman next to any man other than her husband. Therefore, the graves alternate: husband, wife, wife, husband, husband, wife, etc. Those that are not married are usually buried alongside their parents.
In addition a Jewish cemetery is consecrated exclusively for burial of members of the Jewish faith this means that the Jewish partner of a mixed marriage is entitled to be buried in a Jewish cemetery, while his or her unconverted Gentile partner and Gentile children may not be buried there.
They can be buried in an unconsecrated adjacent area, separated by hedge, wall or fence.
Most burial plots in the unconsecrated section of a cemetery will have had some form of blessing or consecration performed over them prior to the burial. The exception to this of course is the plots used for the burial of Atheists and people with no religion who are laid to rest in unconsecrated plots.
Cheers
Guy
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Some of them we dug up and shipped back to their native country for correct reburial and unfortunately the ship sank in bad weather!
Now, I have an ironic sense of humour. But, dear god; That's just priceless!