Forest of Dean FHT Forum - Unconsecrated ground updated posting Non-Conformists

Unconsecrated ground updated posting Non-Conformists (reply)

rookancestrybest — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:47:26 +0000

I've changed this posting since checking some dates and facts... I've done an Internet search on this and found that only those of the C of E faith were allowed to be buried in consecrated ground until the early 1800s. Anyone of any other denomination, or of no faith at all, were not allowed to be buried in consecrated ground.
The Forest of Dean has a history of people being non-conformists. e.g. the R.C. population was one of the largest in England; but also Methodists, Bible Christians and other non-conformists were strong in the area too.
Though they were not buried in ground consecrated by an Anglican Bishop the Anglican cemeteries/churchyards usually had sections for burials for non-conformists. So though documents may say that they were buried in unconsecrated ground it may not mean they were buried anywhere other than the village, town or district's churchyard.
It is only when it became legal to be of an alternative faith that people set up churches, chapels, synogogues and meeting houses etc and buried their dead in separate grave yards attached to them.
The other thing to note is that graves were not always marked by a stone (though these can usually be located) and that many stones have been removed in some areas of the country. Paupers would be buried in unmarked graves and there is evidence that where there were epidemics (e.g. cholera epidemics etc) people have been buried in mass graves too.
There is a graveyard in the city where I live where the graves were laid flat down in the 1960s and cars were, and still are, allowed to drive over them and park on them. Consequently the inscriptions have worn away which I feel is very bad practice.
Last time I went in Coleford's burial ground would be in 1973 when it appeared to be unspoilt but I don't know what state it's in today.

Unconsecrated ground (reply)

gdimond — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:18:25 +0000

Hello Cathy
Just wondering if you had found any more about this? Was it William or Susan who were buried there. I believe that suicides or those who followed a different belief were sometimes buried in unconsecrated ground.

Would be pleased to hear from you.

Gayle

Unconsecrated ground - prior question & answer (reply)

slowhands — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:23:15 +0000

no harm - its easily done :-)

Unconsecrated ground - prior question & answer (reply)

unknown — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:39:10 +0000

thanks slowhands didn't see that. cathy

Unconsecrated ground - prior question & answer (reply)

slowhands — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:32:12 +0000

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=15945#p15947

Unconsecrated ground

unknown — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:31:18 +0000

WILLIAM AND MARY ANN BROOKSHAW are buried in COLEFORD cemetry he died sept 13 1874 CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT BEING BURIED IN UNCONSECRATED GROUND MEANS HOW THANKYOU CATHY