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The English Canon Law Relating to Suicide Victims

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 May 2017

Charlotte L Wright
Charlotte L Wright*
Affiliation:
Solicitor Research Student, Cardiff University
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Abstract

Society has historically viewed suicide with hostility and fear. For centuries this hostility was reflected in the English civil law, which condemned suicide as homicide, and in the Church's position towards suicide victims, which historically considered suicide to be a mortal sin. Under the current canon law, set out in Canon B 38, it is the duty of the minister to bury all parishioners, those who die in the parish, or those entered on the electoral roll of the parish according to the rites of the Church of England, except for (among others) those who ‘being of sound mind have laid violent hands upon themselves’. This canon has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years as society's attitudes towards suicide have become more tolerant. As a result, General Synod recently voted that this canon should be amended. This article explores the development of the law relating to suicide victims in order to understand the Church's current position. It then considers the shortcomings of the current canon law and reviews the position adopted by the Roman Catholic and Methodist churches. Finally, it examines the proposals for changing Canon B 38.

Keywords

suicidecanon B 38canon lawburialfunerals
Type
Articles
Information
Ecclesiastical Law Journal , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , May 2017 , pp. 193 - 211
Copyright
Copyright © Ecclesiastical Law Society 2017 

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References

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9 I am grateful to the Revd Jonathon Wright for pointing out this example.

10 See Church of England, Ought Suicide to be a Crime?, pp 42–44.

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37 Burial Laws Amendment Act 1880, 43 & 44 Vict, C 41, s 1.

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39 Interments (Felo de se) Act 1882, 45 & 46 Vict, c 19.

40 Anderson, Suicide in Victorian and Edwardian England, p 276.

41 Ibid , pp 276–277.

42 Background note from the Secretary General to General Synod in relation to the Private member's motion: Canon B 38, 22 October 2014 (GS 1972B).

43 Church of England (Worship and Doctrine) Measure 1974,  s 6(2) and Sch 1(2).

44 Canon B 38(2).

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46 Canon B 38(2).

47 Background note from the Secretary General, 22 October 2014 (GS 1972B).

48 Private member's motion: Canon B 38, brought by Revd Mike Parsons (GS 1972A).

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54 Canon 1176 §2.

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61 Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church (Peterborough, 2005), vol I, p iii, <http://www.methodist.org.uk/ministers-and-office-holders/cpd>, accessed 27 October 2015.

62 I am indebted to the Connectional Team of the Methodist Church in Britain for their assistance and guidance in obtaining this information.

63 The comments on Draft Amending Canon 36 are available at <https://www.churchofengland.org/about-us/structure/churchlawlegis/legislation/inprogress/submissions-made-to-revision-committees>, accessed 20 September 2016.

64 A detailed analysis of the Revision Committee's conclusions can be found in GS 2029Y, <https://www.churchofengland.org/media/3858267/gs-2029y-report-of-the-revision-committee.pdf>, accessed 7 February 2017.

65 The proposed amendments to Canon B 38 were originally included with proposed amendments to Canon B 8, as Draft Amending Canon 36, but they were later separated and the proposed amendments to Canon B 38 were incorporated into Draft Amending Canon 37.

66 As set out in Appendix I of GS 2029Y, emphasis added.

67 General Synod Draft Amending Canon No 36, Explanatory Memorandum, <https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2529374/gs_2029x_-_draft_amending_canon_no.36_explanatory_memornadum.pdf>, accessed 9 February 2017. This explanation was also expanded by the Revision Committee Report.

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71 I am indebted to the Connectional Team in the Methodist Church of Britain for their assistance and guidance in obtaining this information.