§ MR. J. CARVELL WILLIAMS (Notts,) MansfieldI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is aware that, on the 29th January, the Vicar of Blockley, Worcestershire, refused to proceed with 805 a Burial Service in the cemetery adjoining the churchyard until Mrs. J. C. Reynolds, of Paxford, quitted the cemetery, stating that he made it a rule not to allow any person to be present at a Service at the grave who had not been also present at the service in the church; and that Mrs. Reynolds thereupon retired under protest; and whether the Vicar was entitled by Law to enforce such a rule?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI am informed by the Vicar that no such rule as that alleged in the hon. Member's question was attempted to be enforced, or is even in existence. A rule has, I am told, been in force for many years prohibiting the admission to the cemetery when a Burial Service is going on of persons not belonging to the funeral procession. Whether such a rule has legal validity or not, I have no authority to determine.