Genealogy Chat

Can any one enlighten me on the difference between a common grave and a consecrated grave , Thanks Cath

I think consecrated ground is blessed by a Bishop of the Church of England. Kath. x

Most of our cemeteries have consecrated (blessed as sacred) and unconsecrated areas where you can buy graves. The consecrated ground is consecrated by the Church of England. An unpurchased grave, sometimes known as a public or common grave, is where the right to burial cannot be bought and the Council has total control of the grave. The Council will decide who will be buried in the grave and this might not be members of the same family. Only unpurchased graves first used prior to 1985 may have the Rights purchased subsequently. No memorial rights exist on public graves so no headstone or other memorial can be put up. Anna x

Hi My husband just found out that his grandparents whom both died before he was born were in common graves and his grandmothers has a little headstone. We went to see it a couple of weeks ago. Margaret

Thanks for the replies , Its so puzzling why some of the family are buried in Common ground and some in consegrated ground . Have got this right, they are both the same really , none of them are purchased but one blessed one not ? Or am i just being a bit thick today . Cath

If it was a common grave it would not be purchased, but a consecrated grave could be either common (not purchased) or private (purchased). You would have to check with the cemetery concerned to find out for definite. Kath. x

Thanks Kath , Now i understand . Cath