THE consecration of a second cemetery in Dollar this month could give local residents a peace of mind.

Two local ministers came together, while keeping a distance due to Covid-19, to declare sacred the grounds at the bottom of the town's Lover's Loan, which is ready and prepared to be used for funerals.

It is a welcome development in the town, following ongoing concerns that the existing graveyard at Dollar Parish Church on Manse Road was running out of space.

Rev Dr Tony Foley of Dollar Parish Church consecrated the ground on Friday, April 10, with Fr Christopher Lowdon of St James the Great, of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

It is understood that there are only two or three spaces left at the original cemetery, although a number of family lairs had been purchased in advance.

Cathy Gladwin, session clerk at the parish church, told the Advertiser that plans for the second burial ground have been in the pipeline for some years and were meant to be taken forward as a condition for a housing development there.

That did not go ahead and concerns have been mounting for years that spaces would run out.

Cathy said: "It's been a concern for a good few years and more so recently because we knew the numbers of spaces around the parish church, we knew the availability was going down.

"Quite pleased it's done and dusted."

The session clerk added: "Death is a fact of life, you live, laugh and you'll die.

"For myself, it's a bit of peace of mind that we wouldn't be having to say to somebody: 'Sorry, there's no place in Dollar, whichever relative it is is going to have to be buried elsewhere'.

"That was the concern that was beginning to grow."

The second cemetery did not come as a response to the ongoing coronavirus. Indeed, it had been in the works for some time as officials knew that the number of available lairs was running lower by the year.

The consecration was done in the "spirit of co-operation" between the two local congregations with the parish church having the duty to carry the ceremony out.

Cathy said: "We felt it was important that we invited St James' [church] to be involved because the people from St James' are as much part of the community and their members will be buried there too, that's why there were two ministers."

Thanks and credit go to local Catherine Shaw for taking the picture, who lives in the area.