Bosham Church, Sussex

[Diana]

Over the last 9 months I have been trying to confirm the exact plot of my Grandparents grave. I have contacted the Vicar at Bosham - he did not reply. I have been to the records office at Chichester, they have the actual registry up to 1965, this covers my grand mother’s DOD but there are hardly any plot numbers recorded. My grandfather died in 1975. There is no relative that seems to know where the grave is. There is also a plan made by a volunteer in the 90's - this was done by reading information from the actual grave stones etc. I have even contacted the funeral director.

I know that there was a vase on the grave back in the 60's, sadly this is now gone. I know the approximate position but this is not good enough obviously for me to put some sort of marker on the grave.

I am hoping someone here will have any other ideas.

[v.wells]

Phone the cemetery directly if you know the name of it. And be a pest! The cemetary attendants or the records office MUST have a plot # as it was purchased by someone!

And if they won't/can't help ask to speak with their supervisor/manager and go on up the ladder to success.

[Mutley]

I think Vanessa there is a difference between a churchyard and a cemetery.
One is independent and keeps it's own records and the other is attached to the church and the vicar knows all.;)

Diana, I don't know if you have seen this link or if it is the correct church but there is an address and telephone for the Archivist, maybe she could help or advise.
http://www.boshamvillage.co.uk/Church/holy_trinity.htm

[v.wells]

I think Vanessa there is a difference between a churchyard and a cemetery.
One is independent and keeps it's own records and the other is attached to the church and the vicar knows all.;)

Diana, I don't know if you have seen this link or if it is the correct church but there is an address and telephone for the Archivist, maybe she could help or advise.
http://www.boshamvillage.co.uk/Church/holy_trinity.htm

I apologize for wording my comment wrong Diana.

I guess I meant to say that keep contacting who(m)ever is responsible for the keeping of the plot assignments.

Here in Canada the cemeteries are owned by the town/village/county. Not many churchyards are used as they have been full for a long time. The original churchyards here were very small, except in the Big Cities, such as Toronto and Montreal. Some cemeteries are attached to the larger Churches but plots are so expensive that the public cemeteries are often the consumer's choice.

A morbid subject indeed - most choose cremation as Canadian ground is kind of too frozen for digging in the off months and machinery doesn't work well either!:D

[Diana]

Hi Mutley

Thanks for this link. I will write a letter and see if they have any ideas.

I think Vanessa has a point - the plots have been bought and paid for, there must be records of this, unless its a case of I wish to buy a plot - OK then, that is 'X' amount of money. In the case in question though - my Grandfather was buried with his wife, she was buried in 1946 - he was buried in 1975. Now if they have no plot numbering system how did they know where it was?

Thank you both for your ideas.

I 'chat' to someone in the US quite a lot - she was saying that embalming happens a lot out there as well. I had seen a CSI programme and it got us chatting - yes it is a morbid subject yet is has interest I think.

[Diana]

Hi 'all have helped'

I have not had any certain positve help/proof as to where my grandparents grave is. All I have now found is photo taken by my parents back in the 60's. Sadly I have only the negative but I have managed to get a resonable photo from it and I am now 99% postive where the grave is.

Over the next weekend I am going down to Bosham, Sussex and am meeting my Aunt - together we are going to the cemetary and see if she remembers where it is.

Once again thanks for all help given.

Diana