FORM OF CONSECRATION OF
A CHURCH-YARD OR CEMETERY
SEPARATELY
Before the Consecration of a Church-yard or Cemetery takes place, the Bishop shall make certain that the ground is sufficiently enclosed and that reasonable provision has been made for its maintenance.
At the entrance of the ground or Church-yard to be consecrated, a Petition for its Consecration shall be presented to tile Bishop (as in the Form of Consecration of a Church).
After assenting to the Petition, the Bishop shall say the following Collect:
PREVENT us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then, if conditions so permit, the Bishop, Clergy, and people shall walk round the Portion of ground which is to be consecrated, saying or singing Psalms 23, 39, 90, 103, or any of them. Returning to the Church porch, or other convenient place, the Bishop shall say:
THE glorious majesty of the Lord our God be upon us: prosper thou the work of our hands upon us, O prosper thou our handy-work.
Then shall the Bishop, or some Clergyman appointed by him, read one of the Lessons following: St John 5. 21-29, or 1 Thessalonians 4. 13 to end.
The Sentence of Consecration according to the form below shall then be signed by the Bishop and read aloud (by himself or someone appointed by him), and the same shall be ordered to be recorded in the Registry of the Diocese.
SENTENCE OF CONSECRATION
In the Name of God. Amen.
WHEREAS a piece of land situate at ………………… within our Diocese and jurisdiction, described as follows [description of the land, and of the title by which it is held, to be here entered], has been appropriated for the burial of the dead; and whereas the said piece of land is sufficiently enclosed and is now ready for Consecration; and whereas a Petition has been presented to us by the Incumbent, the Wardens, and others [to be here described as the case may be], praying that we would be pleased to consecrate the said land:
Now therefore, we ………………… by Divine permission Bishop of ………………… do by virtue of the authority ordinary and episcopal to us committed, consecrate the said piece of land, and do set it apart from all profane and common uses, and do dedicate the same to Almighty God for the burial of the dead, according to the rites and ceremonies of the Anglican Church of Canada; that the bodies of the faithful may therein rest in peace and hope of the resurrection to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
And we do pronounce, decree, and declare that the said land shall remain so consecrated, set apart, and dedicated for ever; In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
WITNESS our hand and seal, this ………………… day of ………………… in the year of our Lord …………………, and of our Consecration the…………………
Then the Bishop shall say the prayers appointed for the Consecration of a Church-yard together with a Church, page 691; and also the Collect of All Saints’ Day, page 299.
After which a Hymn may be sung, and an Address given, and the Service concluded with the following Benediction:
THE blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.