Burial grounds

Although the former state church is now an organisation separate from the state, some elements of the activities of the Church of Sweden are still closely connected to the state. A significant example is that the Church of Sweden retains primary responsibility for the maintenance of burial grounds, with the exception of some other special arrangements in a few places in Sweden. This includes the provision of special burial plots for people of different religious traditions, when such requests occur. These are often arranged as special areas of the main cemetery; e.g. a special Muslim or Jewish burial area.

The state has delegated this public service responsibility to the Church of Sweden through special legislation (SFS 1990:1144). All citizens pay a burial fee as part of general state tax for maintenance of the burial grounds. This function of the Church of Sweden is often referred to as the last remaining part of its former position as a public authority, which may be handed over to the state sometime in the future. Currently, this is however not an important issue, in the political or the public debate.