His body was buried in the small cemetery at Rednal near Birmingham, next to the Oratory country house. The grave was opened on 2 October 2008, with the intention of moving any remains to a tomb inside Birmingham Oratory, during Newman's consideration for sainthood; however, no remains were found because of the coffin having been wooden and the burial having taken place in a damp site. Canonization would make Cardinal Newman the first English person who has lived since the 17th century to be declared a saint. In 1991 Cardinal Newman was proclaimed "Venerable" by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.