Consecration of Churchyards Act, 1867

Consecration of ground added to an existing churchyard without presence of chancellor, &c.

1. Where any ground adjoining to an existing churchyard has been or is added thereto, the bishop of the diocese may, if he thinks fit, at the churchyard or in the church to which it belongs, by his own hand, or by the hand of any bishop of the United Church of England and Ireland lawfully appointed as his commissary, sign an instrument declaring or recording the consecration of such ground, without the presence of the chancellor or registrar of the diocese being necessary; and the signature of the bishop to such instrument shall be attested by the chancellor, or by a surrogate, or by any two elergymen of the diocese, and shall be in the following form, endorsed on a plan of the ground so added: I, A.B., Bishop of                                        , do hereby declare and record the ground added to the churchyard of                              , as on the within plan, to be consecrated ground and part of the said churchyard; and such instrument, so signed and attested, on being deposited in the registry of the diocese, shall have the same effect as a sentence of consecration.