witton cemetery

[Shera]

in the late 1940s my mom had a baby boy who sadly died aged 4 months.
she was told she had to have him christened to be buried in consecrated ground. this upset her at the time because she thought what could a baby have done to have any sins, but anyway she asked me this morning if this still applies today. anyone know?

mom was also asked if she wanted to pay £5 and her baby would be put in the coffin with whoever died next but she wouldnt know where he was and the relatives of the person wouldnt know either.

mom didnt feel able to do this and he was buried in witton cemetery in his own grave after being christened.

chris

 

[rowan]

This still applied in 1972 when my baby boy Robert, died at 3 days old.I was told for him to be buried on consecrated ground he would have to be baptised before his death (they knew he would not live). He was placed in a coffin of an elderly lady, at my request I add, because I didn't want him to be on his own.

I couldn't have him buried in Cheltenham, for some unknown reason (maybe because the hospital dealt with it all?) but he was buried in Gloucester and I was given the plot of his grave and was able to visit it

Sadly the network of support was not in gear at that time, so you were left to "get over it" in your own way.which I did, to a point.

It has always been a comfort to me that he wasn't on his own.........as sadly 3 of my other babies have no known resting place.

 

[Charlie]

Oh Rowan, that is so so sad, and these days people have counselling if they've broken a fingernail!
I'm so sorry you had to go all through that, and hope you didn't have to do it on you own.