burials

[corylus]

don't know if this is the right category for my question but is it correct that ministers/vicars are always buried facing west, ie the opposite way to 'their flock' so that come the day of resurrection they will be there to face their flock?

[dot.hawkes]

It is often the case yes, certainly well into the 1900s this was the done. How much of an actual ecclesiastical rule it is i don't know.

[Schutzengel]

I don't think it would be the minister the flock would be expecting to see on the day of resurrection :-)

[dot.hawkes]

No the idea behind it was that the minister would lead his flock towards Christ, and so he was buried so that they could see him first and then follow him to salvation

[Schutzengel]

I'm sure you are right Dot. I was just being flippant.