CONSECRATION OF CHURCHES
AND BURIAL GROUNDS
Consecration is the setting
aside of land or buildings for sacred use in perpetuity.
The consecration of a church or a burial ground can only
be undertaken by a Bishop. It is usual for a written request
to be made to the Bishop in the form of a Petition for Consecration.
This is usually presented to the Bishop at the beginning
of a consecration ceremony. The church or burial ground
becomes legally consecrated upon the Bishop signing a document
called a Sentence of Consecration, which is usually done
in the course of a consecration ceremony. When a church
or burial ground has been consecrated, it becomes subject
to the Bishop's jurisdiction. (Source: http://www.peterboroughdiocesanregistry.co.uk/consecration.html)
