Baptism after death

[the meercat]

Was the baptism of people who had died done regularly and how would they do it after the death.
Did they do it so you could have a funeral and be buried at the church.

I find it a bit odd myself.

[Katarzyna]

Hi Meercat, I personally don't know of anyone doing this other than LDS. This is from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism_for_the_dead

[Darksecretz]

I believe it was so that the person that had died could be buried within the churches grounds.. I had a quick google and found this,

http://mumbailaity.wordpress.com/2011/02/05/they-buried-our-baby-for-5-and-nothing-more-was-said/

[the meercat]

Thanks Kat.thanks Julie,
This is a parish church in mickleover derby.
The man was twenty two when he died and was buried in the churchyard.He was baptised four and a half months later.

He is not my family but caught my eye when I was reading the little notes the vicar does.
See Julie,I not only lurk around graveyards in derbyshire I collect the parish registers.
I told you I was a sad person !!

[Darksecretz]

nope, I don't believe it!! :smilee: if you are sad then that makes me quadrupily sad... I love roaming round churchyards, and looking at PR's too.. I have quite abit of info on some parishes

But I havent come across a person that was dead for four and a half months to be bapt.. that IS odd.

[Jessbowbag]

Are you sure it wasn't a namesake?

[the meercat]

Hi Jess,

I have checked it out on the find my past.The bmds and the census.
But I might be wrong so I will put it on here so someone can check.
Birth
German clarke-Parents german&ruth-mickleover-baptised 5th march 1865-postumous child.

Death
German clarke-mickleover-age 22-25 october 1864


So Julie we are both lurkers thats good.

[JudithM]

I think you'll find posthumous child means child of a father who is dead rather than a dead child.

[Joy Dean]

Julie, meercat, OH and I are all lurkers

[Darksecretz]

oooh we have a few lurkers then... I find I get really odd looks when I go to a churchyard, but it IS lovely and peaceful there.

Oh well spotted Judith... so it was the father that died and not the child?

[the meercat]

thanks Judith.I will check it out.I bet you are right.

OOh hello Joy,I know you are a lurker.

[Olde Crone Holden]

C of E would not baptise anyone after death - baptism is about being received into the church and you can't be received into the body of the church if you are dead.

Judith is correct - the child was born after his father died, a posthumous child.

OC

[Joy Dean]

thanks Judith.I will check it out.I bet you are right.

OOh hello Joy,I know you are a lurker.

[the meercat]

thanks Judith got it in my head now.
the 22 year old German Clarke who died was the father of German born 1865 and he was born after his father died.
You arent half clever.

[the meercat]

Joy :D:D:D

[Uncle John]

thanks Judith got it in my head now.
the 22 year old German Clarke who died was the father of German born 1865 and he was born after his father died.
You arent half clever.

Sounds about right. I have one where the father died 3 months after the baby was born. The baby was baptised a couple of weeks later and there is no indication in the baptism record that the father is deceased.

[Guy]

I think you'll find posthumous child means child of a father who is dead rather than a dead child.

Yes, that is correct.
Cheers
Guy

[Joy Dean]

Yes, that is correct.
Cheers
Guy

- Yes, both Judith and OC were correct.