THE NEW CEMETERY AT CARLISLE (from the Illustrated Times, 29 Nov 1856)

This cemetery, which on more than one occasion has been before the public, in consequence of the refusal by the late Bishop to consecrae it, unless the Church of England portion was divided from that provided for Nonconformists by a wall not less than five feet high -- was consecrated by Dr H.M. Villiers, the recently-appointed Bishop of the Diocese, a few months ago; and as the form adopted by his Lordship seems to have given satisfaction to all parties, it may not be out of place to put it upon record. At the hour appointed, the Bishop was received at the entrance lodge by the Dean and Chapter in full canonicals, the members of the Burial Board, and the Mayor and Corportion with their mace and sword-bearers. Upon alighting from his carriage, a petition was presented by the Chairman of the Board, praying his Lordship to consecrate that portion of the ground set apart for the use of members of the Church of England. A procession was then formed, and advanced to the chapel; upon arrival there, the Bishop commenced by reading a few appropriate texts of Scripture, the proper psalm and lesson from the burial service; and, leaving the chapel, walked at the head of the procession along the boundary walk betwixt the consecrated and unconsecrated portions of the ground. In the meantime, the lectern had been placed in the porch, and on returning to it, the Bishop offered up an appropriate prayer, followed by a short, but very solemn address to the surrounding crowd (estimated to consist of from five to six thousand persons), and concluded with the usual episcopal benediction.

The ground has been laid out, and the chapels and lodge erected, according to plans furnished by the Messrs Hay, of Liverpool, in the Elizabethan style -- the buildings of red brick and a beautiful white stone brought from Northumberland, at an expense of about £14,000. The cemetery occupies about thirty-five acres, upon a rising ground about a mile from the city, and the view from it commands a circuit of not less than fifty or sixty mountains. In the foreground appear the Cathedral and other churches; the massive tower of the Castle, built by Rufus; the priory, the occupant of which in the olden time drew for himself and brethren supplies of milk, butter, and poultry from the adjoining Grange.