Churchyard

The churchyard of Straßwalchen, Austria

In Christian countries a churchyard is a patch of land adjoining or surrounding a church, which is usually owned by the relevant church or local parish itself.[1] In the Scots language and in both Scottish English and Ulster Scots, this can also be known as a kirkyard.

While churchyards can be any patch of land on church grounds, historically, they were often used as graveyards (burial places).

Churchyard adjacent to St. Mary's Forane Church, Koratty, India.
  1. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Churchyard" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 349.