The churchyard
Older than the church it surrounds.
The first burials on this ground were in 1819, two years before the land was deeded for a church. Many of the people laid to rest here were pioneers who settled the St. Thomas area. Every burial plot is now taken.
The oldest grave
The Rapelje Monument
1819
In the back corner of the cemetery along the ravine stands a stone that looks like a bench or small table, now very hard to read. This is the oldest grave in the churchya…
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National significance
Judge Hugh Richardson
d. 1913
An important figure in local history and in national history: he was the man who sentenced Métis leader Louis Riel to hang. It seems odd that a man from the Northwest Ter…
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The one that got away
Samuel Eccles
19th century
Samuel Eccles came to Canada from Ireland by way of New York City, where he had managed a brewery. He opened a brewery in London, Ontario and took on a junior partner who…
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Folklore & symbolism
The Chisholm Monument
1873
The most valuable monument in the churchyard: imported Italian marble on a sandstone base with a two-foot concrete footing, built in 1873 for Robert Bruce Chisholm at a c…
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Not a witch
Maria Baldwin
d. 19th century
The tall black monument with its corner posts still intact is known locally as the “witch’s grave.” The rumour is completely false. The stone is black because of the effe…
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Still in use
The Scattering Garden
Planted 2000
Designed after similar gardens in England and planted in 2000. After a cremation, ashes are scattered over the myrtle by a minister, and a plaque may be purchased to comm…
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Reading the stones
A guide to the carved symbols.
Visitors ask constantly about the symbols, pictures and initials carved into the headstones. This guide was written to answer them.
The Willow Tree
Mourning, grief, and nature’s lament. The most prominent symbol in this cemetery — Walnut Street was formerly lined with huge willow trees. Willows potted in an urn deepen the theme of grief. Seen on Hannah Eccles’ stone.
The Lamb
Innocence. Prevalent here because so many young children are buried in this ground. Seen on the George Smith stone.
Shaking Hands
The farewell between the departed and their loved ones, and sometimes the bonds of marriage. Blooming roses on either side speak to the brevity of earthly existence. Seen on the Thomas Kennedy stone.
Doves
Purity, devotion, and resurrection; sometimes the Holy Spirit. Seen on the stones of Charlie W. and Louisa Tucker.
Roses
The brevity of life. A rose in full bloom represents the prime of life; a nipped rose a shortened one, usually a child or infant. Seen on the John and Sarah Allworth and Jonathan Mitchell stones.
Thistles
Scottish descent, and remembrance. One of only a few examples in this cemetery, on the Thomas Hutchinson stone.
Book or Bible
Either the Bible itself, or that the person was a teacher or a minister. Sarah Vail’s stone shows an open book flanked by two weeping willows.
Urns
Immortality. An urn with a wreath or surrounded by plants signifies mourning; an urn with a blaze means undying friendship and remembrance. Drapes represent mourning or mortality.
Angels
A trumpeting angel means resurrection; a flying angel resurrection or rebirth; a weeping angel grief and mourning, as on the Fred Couse stone. Angels are said to guard the tomb of the deceased.
Crown
The glory of life after death, and reward. One of only two examples here, on the Mary Jane, Matthew and Elizabeth Cole stone.
Wreath or Garland
Victory in death, and saintliness. On Eliza Nicolls’ stone a wreath of roses appears with shaking hands.
Hands Pointing & Palm Leaves
A hand pointing upward shows the pathway to heaven. Palm leaves signify rejoicing and victory, and have also represented martyrdom. Seen on the Edward Mihell stone.
“IHS” and Flowers
Either the Independent Sons of Honour, or the first three letters of Jesus’ name in Greek. The flowers stand for sorrow, grief, condolence, and the fragility of life. Seen on the cross-shaped George Crimes stone.
The Ermatinger Monument
A white bronze monument near the church entrance carrying four symbols, one per side: the anchor for hope or a seafaring profession, wheat sheaves for the divine harvest, a husk of corn for ripe old age, and the cross as an emblem of faith.
Gravestone Pictures and their Meanings, by Jenny Olivier and Carrie Kernohan, summer students, 2007.