Genealogy Chat

I read somewhere that since suicide was a crime up until the 1960s, people who killed themselves couldn't be buried in consecrated ground and I was told that they used to leave the coffin outside the church during the ceremony. Does anyone know if that means they could never be buried in a church graveyard? Thanks.

Yes, according to Roman Catholic faith, one could not be buried in a Catholic cemetery. Catholics who were divorced were also not permitted to be buried in a Catholic cemetery. Judy

Thanks, anyone know about C of E?

Elizabeth, My great uncle committed suicide in 1947. Hes buried in a military grave, in the Marine section of the cemetary. he was C of E. Hes also listed on the CWGC even though he died because of his own actions. Demelza

I think there was an exception for insanity, which created a workaround -- if you were in a bad enough state to kill yourself, you were in a bad enough state not to be held responsible for it. I suspect that's why the verdicts usually say "while the balance of his mind was disturbed"

I've read that the south side of a church graveyard is always wider than the northern side, which was often reserved for criminals, excommunicants, suicides and unbaptised. Karen

I know of someone who commited suicide and was allowed to be buried in the churchyard (C of E), but was not allowed a headstone.

Thanks everyone - that's all very interesting. The death certificate does say something about not knowing his state of mind at the time, it's a shame the coroner's inquest records haven't survived.

My grandad committed suicide in 1934 and is buried in the concecrated section of the local cemetery. I think the none concecrated thing only applies to church graveyards Margaret