St John’s churchyard opened in 1848 and acted as Nelson’s cemetery until the closing years of the nineteenth century when a municipal cemetery was opened in the town. The churchyard at St John’s is extensive; there are 17,000 people buried in 7,000 graves situated on 6.5 acres of land. The memorials, ranging in style from the elaborate to simple small headstones, reflect the lives of a wide range of people from all socio-economic groups in the town’s past.
Nelson was one of the most rapidly growing towns in England in the mid to late nineteenth century. Driven by the demand for cotton textiles the town grew as people moved from all parts of the country to find employment and housing. Many of the people buried in the churchyard were born many miles away, having travelled to find work and secure a better life in the growing town of Nelson. Their stories provide us with a rich and diverse historical resource; a heritage which has been largely forgotten.
Sadly, as the twentieth century progressed, families moved away as the textile industry declined. The churchyard became overgrown and the memorials largely inaccessible. In response to this The Friends of St John’s Churchyard was set up as a registered charity in 2005, dedicated to the restoration of the churchyard and to raising public awareness about those buried within its walls.
A great deal has been achieved including the creation of a Remembrance Garden, a Memorial Garden commemorating the town’s war heroes, information boards and two websites but the sheer size of the site and lack of funds have been limiting factors in the charity’s progress. The group is passionate about making the site safe and accessible for all. Looking to the future, we want to promote the churchyard as a green oasis and heritage resource whilst developing the interest and engagement of local residents and visitors highlighting our history, enjoying exercise, volunteering, and learning about the local nature in heritage surroundings.