A somber yet serene atmosphere envelops Saint John the Evangelist Cemetery. This Roman Catholic cemetery, operated by St. John the Evangelist Holy Catholic Church, holds stories that whisper from the past. It was established in 1845. It became the final resting place for many notable figures.
Saint John the Evangelist Cemetery is more than just a burial ground. It is a chronicle etched in stone and earth. Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney rests here. He once served as the fifth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Enoch Louis Lowe is also buried here. He was the 29th Governor of Maryland. Father John McElroy, S.J. rests here too. He founded St. John’s Literary Institute and Boston College.
Many French settlers found their final peace here at Saint John the Evangelist Cemetery. Even two of Napoleon’s soldiers, survivors of Waterloo, rest in this hallowed ground. Their stories echo across continents and through time.
The grounds of Saint John’s Cemetery were first used in 1832. Henry, a free black man who died of cholera, was interred here. This pre-dates the cemetery’s official establishment by thirteen years.
In 2003, a chapel was created in Saint John the Evangelist Cemetery. It was converted from a storage shed. It has a flagstone courtyard with stone benches. Above the entrance, an iron cross marks the burial site of an unknown Union soldier. Inside, a crucifix hangs above the entrance. It was once owned by John McElroy, S.J.
Before the chapel existed, a Jesuit cemetery was established in 1805. It stood on the grounds of the Jesuit novitiate. In 1903, the Jesuit novitiate closed. Graves were moved to Saint John’s Cemetery. Seventy-nine Jesuits were relocated. Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney was among them.
Saint John’s Cemetery is a testament to faith, history, and remembrance. It offers a peaceful retreat from the outside world. Visitors can reflect on lives well-lived and legacies that endure. Here, the past is not forgotten.