ONE of the long-surviving customs in parish churches was the display of a Maiden’s Garland at the funeral of an unmarried woman or girl. This was a visible sign of her virginity and innocence.

The date and origins of this custom remain obscure. There are indications it was practised in Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome and Etruria. One theory is that it was introduced to England by the Romans as early as the first century AD, and then adopted by the Roman Catholics as that faith spread across the world. It was then a symbol of the virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It has been suggested garlands were used in Catholic European countries which initially included England, but the custom was concealed in England as a result of the 16th century Protestant Reformation, although it was said to continue in secret.

In some countries the garlands were known as Virgins or Crowns, and a curious name was Crants, supposedly from the German Kranz which meant a garland, wreath or chaplet.

A chaplet was a form of circular hat and it was also a string of prayer beads, rather like a shortened rosary. The garland was usually made from white paper or linen and decorated with rosettes coloured white, pink or some other relevant colour.

Streamers in the same colours might be attached and a white glove would hang from the centre as a further symbol of the deceased girl’s innocence. The garland was sometimes placed on top of the coffin during the funeral Mass or carried into the church by young people dressed in white. They preceded the coffin during the funeral procession. The number of young people carrying the garland is not specified, but they could be siblings, other relations or merely friends.

Once the funeral was over, the garland would be placed in the grave or retained within the church, hung in either the chancel or over the pew normally occupied by the girl, her parents and siblings. It appears to have been left there for a period of time determined by the vicar and when it was removed, it was hung in another part of the church, perhaps with similar garlands.

From time to time, churches were subjected to thorough cleaning or orders from vicars for certain unwanted items to be removed, consequently many garlands were taken away and lost.

For the people, this was considered unwise and some thought such an act would bring misfortune to the church and/or its congregation and so the general practice was to leave any garlands hanging in the church until they rotted away. In some cases, the remains were discreetly buried in the churchyard although I am assured many Anglican churches still display garlands, some dating from as recently as the 19th century.

The earliest recorded use of a Maiden’s Garland was at St Mary’s ancient church in Beverley and dates to 1680, after the initial heat of the Reformation. There is also a record of one accompanying the funeral of Hannah Phillips of Astley Abbots, near Bridgnorth in Shropshire. She died on the eve of her wedding day – May 10, 1707.

The garlands could also be carried in memory of a young man who had suffered an early death. If he was innocent, pure and unmarried, a garland of this type may have accompanied his coffin and buried with him, or it may have been displayed within the church.

The last known time a maiden’s garland was carried during a funeral was in 1973. The church was at Abbotts Ann, a village near Andover in Hampshire which is appropriately dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. This is one of the churches where garlands were made for boys or men as well as girls and women.

This Anglican parish church maintains a collection of more than 40 Maidens’ Garlands known as Virgins’ Crowns. This is said to be the largest collection in existence and this parish is the only one in England that continues the tradition of awarding a Virgin’s Crown.