A graveyard is a large ground where the bodies of dead people are buried. It is usually attached to a church. It is also known as a churchyard, necropolis or charnel house.
Graveyards are run by a church, and only church members can be buried there. This is different from cemeteries, which are open to people of all faiths.
Definition
A graveyard is a place where people are buried after their death. Typically, these are associated with churches and located on church grounds. Graveyards are often small in size, and space is limited, so burials are only available for members of the same religion.
Unlike the common assumption that these words are synonymous, there is a difference between a graveyard and a cemetery. The former is more closely associated with a church, and it usually only allows members of the same religion to be buried in its grounds. The latter, on the other hand, does not have to be associated with a church and can serve people of all faiths.
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History
Throughout history, people have buried their dead on a variety of lands. However, in the past, most burials occurred in churchyards. These are areas of land next to a church where only church members can be buried.
In the Middle Ages, wealthy or influential Christians were typically laid to rest inside a church, often in a crypt. Those who were not so rich or famous were interred in the graveyard next to the church. As these old churchyards became full, new burial grounds were created and known as cemeteries.
Although many people use the terms cemetery and graveyard interchangeably, there are important differences between them. The most significant difference is that a cemetery is not associated with a particular church. Graveyards, on the other hand, are usually affiliated with a particular church. This difference can be a big deal if you want to be buried in the churchyard of your choice.
Requirements
As the name suggests, a graveyard is land meant for burial. This may include a tomb, above ground grave, mausoleum or columbarium. A cemetery can also include a place to visit loved ones who have passed away and pay their respects.
Historically, churches had a complete monopoly on burials and used their churchyard as the main burial site. However, as the churchyards started running out of space, non-church-associated cemeteries came into existence. These are typically larger than a churchyard and have more options for religious burials.
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Regulations
Typically, a graveyard is a small area that is surrounded by the grounds of a church or religion. This essentially means that the ground is limited to the church’s premises, so there may be more rules and restrictions.
For example, the headstones must be made of stone or granite and be subdued in nature, with inscriptions that adhere to the religious principles of the church. These strict rules can be more restrictive than those at cemeteries, which allow you to choose a headstone that is more elaborate.
Another rule is that mausoleums must be constructed only with the written permission of the cemetery and full plans and specifications are required prior to commencement of work. This is done to ensure that unused graves are not disturbed, for public safety and because of the potential legal liability that would arise from an inexperienced visitor injuring themselves or other people on a site. A permit fee is also usually charged to cover the cost of supervising the construction.