Over a million souls rest here. Welcome to the City of London Cemetery Church.
This sprawling cemetery wasn’t always a peaceful haven. In the 1800s London’s churchyards overflowed. Disease spread rapidly. The City of London Commission on Sewers declared a crisis. Intramural burials were deemed unsafe and improper.
The solution? A new cemetery. Far from the city’s crowded core. They purchased 200 acres of land. This former farmland became the City of London Cemetery. Opened in 1856 the first burial occurred on June 24th. The consecration however took until November 1857. Legal issues delayed the official opening.
William Haywood a civil engineer designed the cemetery. He wasn’t just concerned with burials. Haywood aimed for beauty. He implemented landscaping and planned roads. He even consulted John Claudius Loudon’s book on cemetery design. Robert Davidson a landscape gardener helped create the stunning grounds.
The cemetery wasn’t just for the wealthy or those with city connections. Anyone could be buried here regardless of their background or beliefs. The cemetery even reuses graves. They deepen existing graves that haven’t been used for over 75 years. This innovative practice ensures space for future interments. It’s a system approved by English Heritage.
The City of London Cemetery became the final resting place for the remains of London’s demolished churches. The Union of Benefices Act of 1860 allowed this. Churches like St Benet Gracechurch and St Mary Aldermanbury found their final resting places here. Even remains from churches destroyed during the Blitz were moved here.
Notable individuals are also buried here. Victims of Jack the Ripper such as Mary Ann Nichols and Catherine Eddowes rest here. So does footballer Bobby Moore. His ashes are in the Garden of Remembrance. The famous “Elephant Man” Joseph Merrick’s soft tissue was also buried in the cemetery.
Today the City of London Cemetery Church continues its vital work. A peaceful parkland setting with gardens roads and mature trees it’s a Grade I listed site. It includes chapels a crematorium and even catacombs. This remarkable place offers much more than just a resting place. It’s a beautiful and historical landmark. A testament to the enduring human spirit. A legacy that continues to flourish.