difference between graveyard and cemetery

whether the cemetery or graveyard is in a rural area or an urban area (urban cemeteries are more expensive).whether the cemetery is public or private.the size of the burial plot (single, companion, family, or cremated remains burial plot).Differences depend on factors other than church association, including: The cost of the burial plot is relatively consistent between cemeteries and graveyards. Your funeral director should provide you with the regulations surrounding gravestone maintenance in the graveyard or cemetery you choose for the loved one who has passed away. placement of flowers and plants: if permitted, maintain your loved one’s memorial by planting or placing flowers and plants, maintaining them, and removing them when they wither.periodic inspection and maintenance: check the gravestone for cracks or other issues and arrange for necessary repairs respond to safety concerns brought by cemetery owner if damage makes the gravestone or memorial unsafe.periodic cleaning: wipe down the memorial using an appropriate gravestone detergent and a cloth that won’t scratch the finish.Whether you choose to lay your loved one to rest in a graveyard or a cemetery, you’ll most likely be responsible for maintaining the memorial. Particularly elaborate headstones are often prohibited in graveyards. For example, churches may require that the headstone be made of stone or granite, subdued in nature, and contain conservative, Christian inscriptions, whereas cemetery rules may be much more forgiving, allowing you to choose any headstone and inscription you’d like. Headstone guidelinesĪs a generalization, the rules and regulations for headstones are much more conservative in a graveyard than they are in a cemetery. For this reason, graveyards are often small, confined to the campus of the church, while cemeteries can be quite expansive. However, over time, church graveyards began to run out of space and non-church-associated cemeteries were born to accommodate the need for space. Historically, churches were entirely responsible for the burial of the dead. Those who didn’t regularly attend any specific church or identify as belonging to any particular church body are often buried in a cemetery instead of a graveyard. In contrast, cemeteries are open to those of all faiths (or no faith at all). This means that graveyards are reserved for Christians. Religious beliefs of the decedentīecause graveyards are generally run by a specific church, those buried in a graveyard were either members of that church or expressed a desire to be buried in that graveyard upon their passing. Cemeteries, on the other hand, are generally not associated with any particular church but are, instead, run by a council and located apart from any particular church. Graveyards are traditionally run by a church and located on the churchyard, or on the grounds or campus of a church. The primary difference between a cemetery and a graveyard has to do with its association or lack of association with a church. This article discusses the history, similarities, and differences between cemeteries and graveyards to help guide you as you work to honor the life of the deceased. In fact, there are both similarities and differences between a cemetery and a graveyard, and the more you understand each, the more empowered you’ll be to make a good decision. Most people use the terms interchangeably, and therefore, believe they represent the same thing. This is often the case when it comes to choosing the burial site: a cemetery or a graveyard. A good funeral home will guide you through each decision, step by step, taking the time to help you understand all of the options available to you. Losing a loved one introduces you to a whole new world of discussion and decisions, often on unfamiliar territory and involving vocabulary that might feel entirely foreign to you.

Difference between graveyard and cemetery