Sir James Reckitt and the Quaker burial ground

On a Lockdown 3 walk through Hull’s Old General Cemetery on Spring Bank, I came across the Quaker Burial Ground.  It is a fenced area within the main grounds and contains less than 100 graves that are all similar in appearance.  I was initially struck by the simplicity of the gravestones in comparison to the many others within the rest of the grounds – which are often elaborate, ornate affairs that were highly popular during the Victorian era. 

Tucked away in the one corner was the grave of Sir James Reckitt and his wife, Kathleen, situated at the foot of Isaac Reckitt’s, James's father.  Isaac Reckitt has founded Reckitt’s and Sons in 1840.  His son James, joined his father at the Company in 1849 and under his guidance, vision, and tenacity, the firm prospered and became multi-national.  There is a very detailed and interesting blog already posted by my colleague, Neil Chadwick, on the life and times of Sir James Reckitt.

The gravestone of James and Kathleen Reckitt in the Quaker burial ground in Hull's General Cemetery 

I wanted to explore the Quaker burial customs, traditions and beliefs which, as I would discover, explained the modesty and simplicity of Spring Bank’s Quaker Burial Ground.

Befitting with their tradition of humility and equality, the Quakers typically only plant trees to remember their loved ones rather than erecting engraved headstone.  Otherwise, since they believe in simplicity, their graves are usually marked by a simple stone [as in the case of Sir James and his wife] or have no mark at all.

A core belief of the Quakers is that everyone is equal before God. Their funerals are led by a Minister [Friend] or an elder who will speak to the mourners about how the ceremony will proceed.

Funerals are simple affairs – they are held in a plain building (meeting house). Owing to the extent of the autonomy in the Quaker tradition, funeral practices can vary depending on where they are held.  Hymns are not usually part of the Quaker funeral tradition, although Open worship, spontaneous prayers, funeral music or reciting funeral poems are common.  The end of the funeral is marked by all the mourners shaking hands with each other after the coffin has left the Meeting House.

The Quaker funeral has two aims – firstly to give thanks to God for the life that has been lived and secondly to help the mourners feel a deep sense of God’s presence.  Because the mourners are thankful for having known the deceased, they tend not to wear black.

Funerals are regarded for the living rather than the deceased. There is no set tradition following the Quaker funeral service – it is completely up to the loved ones if a wake or reception is held.

The sending of wreaths or funeral bouquets are also not common as sustainability is a popular belief in Quakerism.  This explains why Sir James requested no floral tributes be sent at his funeral other than those sent by family members.  The ethos of sustainability also means that cremation is often chosen instead of burial and this was the case with Sir James Reckitt.  Sir James Reckitt was obviously a devoted Quaker and he amply practiced and demonstrated his belief in the core Quaker values [referred to as the SPICES] of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship in death as in life. 

The funding for the “Unlocking the Treasures Project” at the Hull History Centre is entirely as a result of a James Reckitt’s Trust grant, and we hope it will become one of the many fitting legacies of this great human being.

Caoimhe West, Reader Assistant, Unlocking the Treasures Project