7th April 2009, 10:46 PM
I think the difference is purely jurisdictional.
The C of E take responsibility, legal and otherwise for the bodies that are on its property. They don't have to be Cof E bodies, and most weren't, given the length of time England was Catholic. However, the C of E has the say over what gives as they can prove a jurisdictional (if not necessarily apostolic) succession over them. THis direct (i.e. documented) jurisdictional link is what is missing from any claims of modern Pagans and Odinists and the liek to what they see as 'their' ancestors. A Similar consideration pplies to Jewish burials (even the medieval Jewish cemetery in York), modern Roman Catholic burials and those in municipal cemeteries- effectively the cemetery manager decides what goes. In the absence of a successor authority, most pagan (i.e. pre-Christian) burials in England's fates are decided by the archaeologists. Think of possession being 9 tenths of the law.
The C of E take responsibility, legal and otherwise for the bodies that are on its property. They don't have to be Cof E bodies, and most weren't, given the length of time England was Catholic. However, the C of E has the say over what gives as they can prove a jurisdictional (if not necessarily apostolic) succession over them. THis direct (i.e. documented) jurisdictional link is what is missing from any claims of modern Pagans and Odinists and the liek to what they see as 'their' ancestors. A Similar consideration pplies to Jewish burials (even the medieval Jewish cemetery in York), modern Roman Catholic burials and those in municipal cemeteries- effectively the cemetery manager decides what goes. In the absence of a successor authority, most pagan (i.e. pre-Christian) burials in England's fates are decided by the archaeologists. Think of possession being 9 tenths of the law.