While the terms graveyard and cemetery are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between them. Graveyards are generally smaller and affiliated with a church or family, while cemeteries are larger and open to anyone who wishes to purchase a plot.
Traditional grave burial offers simplicity and alignment with cultural and familial customs. However, it also exposes the buried body to the elements and requires periodic maintenance or repairs.
Churchyard
Churchyards are special places for both the living and the dead. They are a focus of family and community identity as well as a rich source of archaeological information. Churchyards are also important for wildlife, with the variety of habitats provided by hedgerows, boundary walls, gravestones and yew trees.
English churchyard features include lychgates, which were built to provide shelter for the party bringing the corpse to the church. These structures were popular in the Victorian period, and often used as war memorials.
The churchyard is a unique environment, and the relationship between the building and its curtilage is one which is being increasingly recognised by conservationists. The churchyard should be managed in a way which balances these multiple functions and maintains its status as consecrated ground. A number of works to churchyards require a faculty, including repairs to boundary walls and lychgates, the planting of new trees and the introduction of benches. Churchyards should be carefully managed to ensure that they remain a haven for wildlife and a place of peace and reflection for the living.
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place where people are buried. It is a place where people can remember those who have died, and it is also a place where visitors can pay their respects. In some cases, a graveyard is the only place where a particular religion can be practiced.
During the Middle Ages, wealthy Christians were usually interred inside the church, in a crypt beneath the floor, and less-wealthy congregants were buried in the surrounding area known as the graveyard. The compound word “graveyard” is derived from the proto-Germanic words “graban,” which means to dig, and gardan, which refers to an enclosed area of land.
Today, the terms cemetery and graveyard are often used interchangeably. However, there are some key differences between these two types of burial sites. Graveyards are typically smaller and are associated with a specific church, while cemeteries are larger and not tied to any church. Some people use the words to mean different things, but most consider the difference to be purely linguistic.
Burial ground
A burial ground is a place where people bury their dead. It is usually located near a church, and it contains graves and tombs. Some of these places have been in use for thousands of years. However, most of them have now been replaced by cemeteries. These are larger and more organized. They also have stricter regulations.
Burial sections should generally conform to the existing terrain and be based on a grid layout. Grades should range from two percent, which is the minimum for positive drainage and access, to 15 percent. Each section should have one predominant slope, with no rising or falling slopes.
As burial ground space fills up, it’s important to consider how a cemetery can re-use grave sites. However, this isn’t always easy. It can be difficult to locate living family members, and public notice about re-use is often not enough to reach them. In addition, many families may object to the re-use of their loved ones’ graves.
Burial plot
A burial plot is a space in a cemetery where caskets are buried. It can be purchased separately or in tandem with a headstone or niche. It is important to consider all the options when choosing a grave plot, including associated costs. Many funeral homes can help you with these decisions, and will liaise with the cemetery manager to ensure that your final plans meet all applicable requirements.
The most basic type of grave plot is a single grave, which holds the remains of one person in a casket. Some cemeteries also offer companion plots, which are designed for a couple to be buried side-by-side. Another option is a double-depth plot, which allows two caskets to be buried in one grave, saving space and cost.
Family plots can be a great way to keep family members together. However, some families find that they are unable to purchase enough plots to accommodate all of their loved ones, and may need to rethink their arrangements.