Partly right and partly wrong
I think.
To my knowledge, there was always part of Churchyards put aside for 'Paupers Graves' where 'the parish' would bury the deceased rather than the family (sort of thing). This is now called 'Common Ground' and all (or nearly all) cemeteries still have this area or areas for folk who can't afford a private lair/plot, so this might be the case in St. Ninians. The burials are still recorded by the Cemetery Records Offices, so they know exactly who's where, but it is not permitted to erect stones. I would imagine it was the same before the cemeteries existed, i.e. the churchyards.
In my own personal experience, I was doing some research for a lady who's sister had died in infancy and was buried in Logie Churchyard Extension. Although this baby had been buried in 'Common Ground', I got a map from Viewforth which showed all the lairs in that particular piece of ground and I was able to pinpoint exactly where the grave was for her.
As for other denominations - I don't know. I
believe that Roman Catholic burials have to be in 'consecrated ground' but I don't know how that would work on a Common Ground Section as the family wouldn't have any say as to where exactly the grave would be.
Also worth bearing in mind is the fact that 'Church of Scotland' now is quite a recent term. I don't have any knowledge about dates when all the different churches 'sorted themselves out' but I don't doubt over the years the rules and regulations differed.
Anne
P.S. You're very welcome to the info.
P.P.S. Were you standing in the middle of the road to take that second picture?
