Unconsecrated burial grounds

[Cockneyrebel]

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

[stanmapstone]

In cemeteries Consecrated Burial Grounds are Church of England. Non-Conformists are un-consecrated.
Stan

[stanmapstone]

I should have asked are you talking about church yards or cemeteries? And when?
Stan

[Cockneyrebel]

Usually in the 1800's I've found them-so Methodists, Baptists, etc, were in unconsecrated grounds?
Cr

[Craclyn]

Many non-conformists were buried in C of E graveyards too.

[cemetery friends]

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.

[whiteout7]

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!

[stanmapstone]

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

[stanmapstone]

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