A History of Church Gresley Cemetery
A Burial Board consisting of nine members was formed on 23rd April 1877 and a cemetery containing 6 ½ acres was laid out at a total cost, including the erection of a sexton’s house and mortuary chapel of £7,600. Initially an area of approximately 4 acres was enclosed with a ‘substantial iron fence’. With this area being severed into two portions by ‘a broad division walk’. This walk still forms the main avenue into the cemetery which is now lined with mature trees.
At the entrance a highly ornamental lodge was erected through which entrance to the cemetery was obtained by a covered gateway having on one side the sexton’s house and the other a small hall which was used as a Board room and chapel and was fitted with a reading desk and seats for mourners. The original gates can still be found at the entrance to the cemetery.
(image reproduced by kind permission of The Magic Attic)
The first interments took place at the cemetery in 1880 prior to any parts of the cemetery being consecrated.
Consecration of the cemetery
The consecration of the cemetery was performed by the Bishop of Lichfield and took place on a snow covered Friday, 25th February 1881. Only the left-hand side of the division walk was consecrated with the larger right-hand side being ‘dedicated to the use of non-conformists’. The attendance of the public on the day was not as large as anticipated due to several inches of snow laying on the ground.
A procession of the public headed by the Bishop of Lichfield, his secretary, Rev H T Cavell (vicar of Gresley), the Rev Mr Tonge (curate of Linton) and members of the Burial Board slowly made their way around the area of ground to be consecrated after which they then gathered around a small table placed on the side of the walk where the Bishop pronounced the sentence of consecration and signed the register ordering it to be preserved among the records of the Diocese. Owing to a misunderstanding the printed forms usually supplied to the public on such occasions had not been procured and consequently the hymns and a large portion of the beautiful and solemn service were omitted. After a final prayer by the Bishop the assembly dispersed.
Extensions to the cemetery
An initial extension of about 1.3 acres was undertaken to the cemetery of which an area of about three-quarters of an acre formed an area which was consecrated by the Bishop of Derby in 1937.
A second extension to the cemetery was undertaken in 1973 enlarging the cemetery to its current size of approximately 10 acres.
The cemetery currently contains in excess of 10,200 graves.
Demolition of the Sexton’s House
It is believed the demolition of the Sexton’s House and Mortuary Chapel took place around the late 1960s/early 1970s.
(image reproduced by kind permission of The Magic Attic)
Removal/Relocation of older memorials
In 1985, works were undertaken to remove kerb surroundings, re-site memorials and level graves within older parts of the cemetery (specifically the consecrated, unconsecrated and Section 2 areas) for the purpose of better maintenance. The memorials that were moved were then re-sited along the main avenue of the cemetery.
Recent changes
In 2020 works were undertaken to remove two areas of pathway which were part of the 1973 extension to the cemetery to create additional space for graves.
Plan of the cemetery
