Author Topic: Reasons for burials in unconsecrated ground  (Read 45950 times)

Offline ambers

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Reasons for burials in unconsecrated ground
« on: Thursday 04 November 10 17:31 GMT (UK) »
Does anyone know all the reasons why people would be buried in unconsecrated ground. ???

I have an 1876 death certificate  and she died in normal circumstances, but have been told she was buried in unconsecrated ground.
Her birth certificate has both parents named.

Ambers
GLAMORGAN: Evans. Davies. Eddy. Bradnum.
GLAM to USA:Walter H Davies 1886.Thomas J 1852
PEMBROKE: Bradnum.Summers
CARMARTHENSHIRE:Davies. Jones
NORFOLK/SUFFOLK: Bradnum.Cork.Helsdon 3 in Australia, Whiskins. Fairhead.Catchpole.
DEVON:Mallett. Acford, Kidston.Short.Lover.Edwards,Telford.Sparrow
SOMERSET: Masey
CORNWALL:Eddy.Thomas Maddern.Harvey. Noy.Reynolds,Batten,Curtis.
Cornwall to USA: Thomas, Semmens. Oats
Warwickshire: Mountney

Offline gordon5

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Re: Reasons for burials in unconsecrated ground
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 04 November 10 17:39 GMT (UK) »
Hi

I may be misunderstanding what I've read but was she a non-conformist or Catholic or similar? So far as I know, consecrated ground was reserved for those of the denomination of the particular churchyard. Hence Catholics would be buried in the unconsecrated section of an Anglican churchyard and vice versa - but I oculd be wrong!
Steadwood worldwide, Horsburgh, McBean (and variants), Pride, Ross, mostly in the Lothian and Borders area, Ingles and variants from Buckie, Wilson, Stoddart.

Offline ambers

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Re: Reasons for burials in unconsecrated ground
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 04 November 10 17:50 GMT (UK) »
Many thanks for your reply gordon5 :)

I had better check the denomination of the Churchyard she is buried in.

Ambers


GLAMORGAN: Evans. Davies. Eddy. Bradnum.
GLAM to USA:Walter H Davies 1886.Thomas J 1852
PEMBROKE: Bradnum.Summers
CARMARTHENSHIRE:Davies. Jones
NORFOLK/SUFFOLK: Bradnum.Cork.Helsdon 3 in Australia, Whiskins. Fairhead.Catchpole.
DEVON:Mallett. Acford, Kidston.Short.Lover.Edwards,Telford.Sparrow
SOMERSET: Masey
CORNWALL:Eddy.Thomas Maddern.Harvey. Noy.Reynolds,Batten,Curtis.
Cornwall to USA: Thomas, Semmens. Oats
Warwickshire: Mountney

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Reasons for burials in unconsecrated ground
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 04 November 10 21:49 GMT (UK) »
Every parishioner had the right of burial within his parish, although non-conformists were usually buried in  non-consecrated ground, as 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.
See http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,450997.msg3228203.html#msg3228203

Stan
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk


Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Reasons for burials in unconsecrated ground
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 04 November 10 21:52 GMT (UK) »
Consecration is the formal dedication and setting apart, by a Bishop, of a church, churchyard, or burial-ground.  There are legal consequences attaching to consecration, for instance a body cannot be removed from consecrated ground for burial elsewhere without a faculty.

Stan
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Offline ambers

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Re: Reasons for burials in unconsecrated ground
« Reply #5 on: Friday 05 November 10 09:48 GMT (UK) »
Many thanks Stampston :)

Your reply was really interesting and I have learned a lot.

Ambers
GLAMORGAN: Evans. Davies. Eddy. Bradnum.
GLAM to USA:Walter H Davies 1886.Thomas J 1852
PEMBROKE: Bradnum.Summers
CARMARTHENSHIRE:Davies. Jones
NORFOLK/SUFFOLK: Bradnum.Cork.Helsdon 3 in Australia, Whiskins. Fairhead.Catchpole.
DEVON:Mallett. Acford, Kidston.Short.Lover.Edwards,Telford.Sparrow
SOMERSET: Masey
CORNWALL:Eddy.Thomas Maddern.Harvey. Noy.Reynolds,Batten,Curtis.
Cornwall to USA: Thomas, Semmens. Oats
Warwickshire: Mountney

Offline pityackafromblyth

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Re: Reasons for burials in unconsecrated ground
« Reply #6 on: Monday 08 November 10 13:39 GMT (UK) »
I believe Lloyd-George(former minister and then PM First World War era) had something to do with a court case re this matter. He trained as a solicitor and fought some case in court re burial.  I do not know which court, but comments re Non-conformist rings a bell with me, and I am sure that Lloyd-George was the person concerned.  I believe another reason for burial in unconsecrated ground was suicide.  Up until 1961 where a person committed suicide, a crime had to be recorded by the local police: felo de se, I think was the Latin term.  It was a crime against the King/Queen; his/her Crown; and his/her Diginity.

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Reasons for burials in unconsecrated ground
« Reply #7 on: Monday 08 November 10 14:15 GMT (UK) »
In 1888  Lloyd George won on appeal, to the Divisional Court of Queens Bench, the Llanfrothen Burial case which established the right of Nonconformists to be buried according to their own denominational rites in parish burial grounds, a right given by the Burial Act 1880 that had hitherto been ignored by the Anglican clergy. The prime motive of the Burial Laws Amendment Act 1880, was to remove a grievance felt by non-conformists, especially in rural districts. The Act granted facilities to non-conformist 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.
An 1823 statute legalized the burial of suicides in unconsecrated ground, but religious services were not permitted until 1882. In the year 1823 it was enacted that the body of a suicide should be buried privately between the hours of nine and twelve at night, with no religious ceremony. In 1882 this law was altered by the Internments (felo de se) Act, 1882. where every penalty was removed except that internment could not be solemnised by a burial service, and the body could now be committed to the earth at any time, and with such rites or prayers as those in charge of the funeral thought fit or may be able to procure.

Stan
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Offline pityackafromblyth

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Re: Reasons for burials in unconsecrated ground
« Reply #8 on: Monday 08 November 10 14:28 GMT (UK) »
Stanmapstone,
Bang on with the court reference.  I had read about it in the last year but could not recall details. The title of this page set my brain cogs whirring.  I even looked up in Chambers Autobiographical Dictionary, but the facts were not included there.  Your other comments re the burial acts also made interesting reading.
Regards,
pityackafromblyth.