In England many churchyards are in poor condition with old gravestones
used as pathways.
Was this always so, and why is their no obligation to maintain the
graves?

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On Friday, October 15, 2021 at 11:12:42 PM UTC+1, Peter Jason wrote:

In England many churchyards are in poor condition with old gravestones
used as pathways.
Was this always so, and why is their no obligation to maintain the
graves?

Much smaller congrations, vicars now reponsible for two or more parishes and, presumably, a decline in the number of people who want to be sextons.

There is an upside, however. Unkempt churchyards have become havens for wildlife, particularly in cities, with badgers, foxes, deer and others making their homes there. We can probably blame the Romans for the introduction of the Black Rat to Britain,
but the much more ubiquitous Brown Rat is post-medieval in Europe.

"Rewilded" graveyards have also become particularly important for pollinating insects.

As far as I am aware, the use of old gravstones as pathways in churchyards isn't common at all, although some long since abandoned and derelict churches have had their gravstones removed and turned into paths. No longer consecrated ground, presumably.

Walking over gravestones inside churches is altogether different, and nearly all English medieval churches have these in greater or lesser numbers for the local gentry built into the fabric of their floors.

There are still plenty of churchyards that are kept well-manicured, espcially for those which are tourist attractions with ancient yews or extant medieval lych-gates, etc.

Cheers,

David Read

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On Sat, 16 Oct 2021 02:29:06 -0700 (PDT), David Read
<david.read1955@gmail.com> wrote:

On Friday, October 15, 2021 at 11:12:42 PM UTC+1, Peter Jason wrote:

In England many churchyards are in poor condition with old gravestones
used as pathways.
Was this always so, and why is their no obligation to maintain the
graves?

Much smaller congrations, vicars now reponsible for two or more parishes and, presumably, a decline in the number of people who want to be sextons.

There is an upside, however. Unkempt churchyards have become havens for wildlife, particularly in cities, with badgers, foxes, deer and others making their homes there. We can probably blame the Romans for the introduction of the Black Rat to Britain,

but the much more ubiquitous Brown Rat is post-medieval in Europe.

"Rewilded" graveyards have also become particularly important for pollinating insects.

As far as I am aware, the use of old gravstones as pathways in churchyards isn't common at all, although some long since abandoned and derelict churches have had their gravstones removed and turned into paths. No longer consecrated ground, presumably.

Walking over gravestones inside churches is altogether different, and nearly all English medieval churches have these in greater or lesser numbers for the local gentry built into the fabric of their floors.

There are still plenty of churchyards that are kept well-manicured, espcially for those which are tourist attractions with ancient yews or extant medieval lych-gates, etc.

Cheers,

David Read

Seems a shame, though now we have virtual cemeteries and tombstones.. https://www.findagrave.com/

....and in South Australia these's talk of burying (dead) people
standing up. Very efficient.

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On Mon, 18 Oct 2021 16:47:10 +1100, Peter Jason <pj@jostle.com> wrote:

....and in South Australia these's talk of burying (dead) people
standing up. Very efficient.

you have no idea how glad I am that you specified these people be
actually dead. Though aside from sanitary requirements I am mystified
at the state's role in mandating a method of burial.

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On Mon, 18 Oct 2021 22:47:18 -0700, The Horny Goat <lcraver@home.ca>
wrote:

On Mon, 18 Oct 2021 16:47:10 +1100, Peter Jason <pj@jostle.com> wrote:

....and in South Australia these's talk of burying (dead) people
standing up. Very efficient.

you have no idea how glad I am that you specified these people be
actually dead. Though aside from sanitary requirements I am mystified
at the state's role in mandating a method of burial.

No doubt to save space. And post-hole auger drillers are cheap to
run. Sadly some poor dead are going to suffer being buried upside
down.
There's no mandate. The cheapness of burial is the main attraction.
It costs about $1000 for a cremation....and think of the CO2
produced!!

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