Cemetary Orinantion

[DrRod]

We have an old cemetery on our land. There had been a Drunkard log church there in the 19th century. The more recent parts of the cemetery is oriented so that the graves face east. As I understand it, people were traditionally buried with their feet to the east so that at the second coming they could rise to meet Jesus, coming as the sun. But a large, old part of the cemetery has the graves laid out north/south. I've always wondered about this. Can anyone offer any thoughts on this.

Thank you

 

[DrRod]

Should have said "orientation" -- broke my glasses this evening.

 

[Wagtail]

Quoted from Google: 'There was an article recently, I believe in the Raleigh, North Carolina News and Observer [2003], where the author wrote about old cemeteries, and noted that traditionally most persons were buried east-to-west, although persons of ill-repute were buried north-to-south []. At one cemetery he came across one of the latter, and said to his companion that "this guy must have done something bad". An old women nearby overheard him, and replied, "We don't talk about it".'

Mostly though, it wasn't/isn't a hard & fast rule as to orientation. It's mostly tradition regarding your OP understanding + it's easier to initially 'lay out' the cemetery in one direction as opposed to a higgledy-piggledy, every-which-way method.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

They should do it like a game of Tetris! Complete a line and go to heaven.

 

[TomSeller]

Have yourself cremated, then you have all orientations covered.

 

[om21braz]

Local church has graves dating back to 1757. Most are laid out East-West. A few that did not have markers have been found while digging a new one - that can present quite a problem nowadays.

 

[k0ua]

We have an old cemetery on our land. There had been a Drunkard log church there in the 19th century. The more recent parts of the cemetery is oriented so that the graves face east. As I understand it, people were traditionally buried with their feet to the east so that at the second coming they could rise to meet Jesus, coming as the sun. But a large, old part of the cemetery has the graves laid out north/south. I've always wondered about this. Can anyone offer any thoughts on this.

Thank you

I bet a dollar you meant to say Dunkard log church, NOT Drunkard log church

 

[GPintheMitten]

I bet a dollar you meant to say Dunkard log church, NOT Drunkard log church

I wondered about that but didn't want to question anyone's religion.

 

[CurlyDave]

I bet a dollar you meant to say Dunkard log church, NOT Drunkard log church

Somehow I thought it meant that the logs were placed unevenly.

 

[bcp]

Maybe...

Drunkard Church

Bruce

 

[Wagtail]

I bet a dollar you meant to say Dunkard log church, NOT Drunkard log church

I don't know James, but someone has to polish off the excess communion wine. I try to do my part but you can only swig so much before they take the cup back!

There's been stories of travelling Ministers & Priests getting nailed for Drink-Driving on a late Sunday morning.

 

[k0ua]

I don't know James, but someone has to polish off the excess communion wine. I try to do my part but you can only swig so much before they take the cup back!

There's been stories of travelling Ministers & Priests getting nailed for Drink-Driving on a late Sunday morning.

I am fairly sure, that was an autocorrect thing or maybe just a Freudian slip, but who knows? Maybe there is a church just for drunkards? Might have a pretty big congregation.

 

[charlz]

Maybe there is a church just for drunkards? Might have a pretty big congregation.

And building on info posted in Wagtail's post:

"although persons of ill-repute were buried north-to-south "

Maybe that's the answer to the OP's question

 

[Grateful11]

I thought maybe it was a very old AA meeting place :laughing:

 

[dmccarty]

I just went and checked our town church cemeteries via Google Earth and the graves are laid out east/west. Some of the properties we looked at buying had family cemeteries and they were laid out east/west as well. The cemetery with my granny's grave and the cemetery for my wife's family are east/west as well.

One of my family members lived next to a HUGE cemetery in FLA. Just checked my memory with Google Earth and the graves are NOT laid on east/west. Some are but must are just any old direction that looks to maximize the available space in a given cemetery section.

Later,
Dan

 

[kcflhrc]

I actually don't think it matters one way or the other. I see people buried in all kinds of variations around here. Probably what ever works out to get the most bodies on a plot of land.

 

[bcp]

I actually don't think it matters one way or the other. I see people buried in all kinds of variations around here. Probably what ever works out to get the most bodies on a plot of land.

Soon they will have to bury them in a standing position.



Bruce

 

[kcflhrc]

Soon they will have to bury them in a standing position.



Bruce

Makes sense, get a large post hole digger and drop them in.

 

[dmccarty]

Soon they will have to bury them in a standing position.



Bruce

Makes sense, get a large post hole digger and drop them in.

Me thinks THAT orientation would be REALLY BAD! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[jerrybob]

Makes sense, get a large post hole digger and drop them in.

Also.....put a large spring in first......that way......during the second coming they could just pop up to greet Jesus.....kinda like a Jack in the box.