St John's Church, Old Haymarket, Liverpool

[jannergray]

Hello everyone,

Can anyone tell me what happened to all the bodies interred in the Churchyard at St John's Church, Old Haymarket, Liverpool?

The Church closed in 1898 and was demolished in 1899. The area is now known as St John's Garden's (behind St George's Hall).

I wonder if all the bodies were re-interred at a Municipal Cemetery? or are they still there "in situ"!

Thanks, Graham

[Hollander]

Perhaps this link might be of help Graham.

http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/stjohnschurchyard.html

Finbar.

[jannergray]

Hi Finbar

Thanks for this. Its interesting, however Im more concerned about what happened when the church was finally demolished in 1899.

The churchyard at that time was made into Gardens and I wonder if the bodies are still buried there or if the whole area was cleared!

Graham

[ainslie]

According to notes in the archives catalogue for Liverpool Record Office, burials at St John's ceased on 11 June 1865 and a faculty for creating a public garden was granted in December 1888.  82,491 burials took place there.
I did not see a reference to disposal of bodies but I suspect they will have been removed to one of many cemeteries in the city. 
Have you anyone in mind?
A

[jannergray]

Hi Ainslie

Thanks for your help.

I've been searching for a while online and cannot find anything that suggests the bodies were disinterred and removed to another cemetery - however it seems hard to believe all the burials are still in place since the Gardens were created and opened in 1904.

My interest stems from the fact that I learned today that my 3xGt Grandmother, Eleanor Croasdale was buried there in January 1861. I now suspect that I've got a number of ancestors buried here and now aim to find their burials.

Graham

[ainslie]

Graham
An email to the Record Office might bring a rapid reply -
recoffice.central.libraryATliverpool.gov.uk
using the usual device of inserting the symbol in place of AT.
A

[missy1800]

Hi Graham

Many of my ancestors were buried here and apparently many of the graves are still in situ around the 'garden'(although there are no grave / headstones)  In fact my GGGG Grandfather was buried there late 1861, which is a bit grisly if he was dug up!  The article you were kindly copied states,

"Not withstanding the above judicious precaution, all along the line of excavation, which runs about ten feet deep, the ground was found filled with a compact mass of coffins. These, and the loose bones, which were found scattered about, have been deposited in another part of the churchyard, the soil, freed from all visible portions of the human body has been carefully carried away, and deposited in the new cemetery, near the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, at the north end of the town. The bodies, considerably exceeding 2000 in number, have been removed with the greatest care and delicacy, and the workmen have behaved with exemplary patience and fortitude"

sdsd

The question to ask I guess would be where is this land and is it unchanged?

Kate

[missy1800]

The good news is that Liverpool Records Office do hold MI's at their office.  I have managed to find grave numbers, rows etc., although it's such a pity we can't find the graves 

Regards,  Kate

PS.. If you do find out anything I'd be grateful if you'd update me too 

[andarah]

Can anyone tell me the religion of this church?  I cannot find reference to the faith.

My husband's gggg grandfather was baptized/christened there in 1815.

I guess I should look there for burials now as well.