The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1885-11-24 00:00:00

WEST STAFFORD.
OPENING OF THE NEW BURIAL GROUND.

BY Till BISHOP or BALBONI'',
Bishop Wordsworth on Friday last consecrated
the addition to the churchyard. which has been given
to the pariah by Mr. John Floyer. The plot, which
is about 10 perches in area, is immediately contiguous
1... the ohl ground, and has been enclosed by a cult.
dantial stone wall. The bishop was met at the door
of the church by the Rev. Canon Reginald Smith
(rector), Rev. T. W. Knipe, Rev. A. A. Leonard, Rev.
0. F. Powys, and Rev. R. M. L. Lisa The nor. A.
A. Leonard idficiated am ltiehop's Chaplain, and
carried the pastoral staff. This bsiOg Om first visit of
the new bishop to this neighbourhood, the poionedings
were invested with considerable interest, and there
was a numennta congregation ,d parishioners and
others. The ocestiony waA vroced.rd by the ordinary
service for the day, in which the Rector WWI &misted
by the Rev. A. A. Leonard. Appropriate lemons,
psalnei and hymns, were *elected for the larynx,.
Miss Pearee presided at the harmonium At the
time appointed the bitiltop, let by the chtirchwaolen,
anj followed by the clergy awl congregation, node a
detour of the churchyard, reading th 3 special psalms,
and returning to the sacred edifice the bishop
announced that the piece of ground hal been set apart
for it, sacred mirpose for ever. The deed of gift we..
than prosentol to his lordship by Mr. Floyer, and it
was duly signed by the bishop and the rector, and
attested by the Rev. T. W. Knipe as witness. The
bishop made the customary request that the mutant-
mem shod,' be registered and preserved among the
amionls of the diocese.
: . .

Before the benediction was pronounced, the Humor
deli‘ered a short addreas, disclaiming, however, any
idea of preaching • formal mermen Ifs expreated
deep thankfulness that he lied been permitted to come
amongst them, and to take part in that solemn duty,
It is a very solemn thing, continued his lordahip, to
sot aside ground for the burial of our dead. As we
Issued by to-day we could not help observing the
graves of many who, I suppose, were well known Si
M.sit if you ; and each one of those graves must have
read a livaeon to those who are familiar with the
I. rma and faces of them who are beneath the sod there. It is of course a very great blessing which
G. 4 gives you in this place, in permitting you to have
your dead burust so clot*, to your church, sip shut
every time you come to worship God in this Hi.
House, you have solemn thoughts brought hack to
you of those whom you have loved and lost, and all
those who have been laid around this church genera.
tion after generation. It is a great bloating which
ererybody cannot have. There are no disibt some
hero loot their friend* and relations., who
are buried, as so many of our Robbers hun. on
for.•igii elem.% far awry front their hulk.° Intel,
perlimw hart, sm,, eunionittoil to 1,,. 'in of
the 0.4 ileep ;emir inel 0,..:11‘, WI kjioW.. if OWN%
i;,1.1 Me.* and knows their resting Ow, just :AS is
a. ll' .4.1,1 INA knows Ow rusting 11141,11'i if tlesie lying
around our churches. Yuu minemilwor, perhaps. the
isewsint of thu death id Monica, the mother of St.
Augustine. :the was living at that time with her son
in Italy, mid fur • long time lout been very very
anxious t.l go home to distant Africa, in order that
she might be laid by her dead husband. But God ,
wished it otherwise, She came down to Oette, the