The Sepulchre Quaker Burial Ground
Photo added by Salkeld Genealogy Research

The Sepulchre Quaker Burial Ground

Kendal, South Lakeland District, Cumbria, England

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  • Get directions Kendal, Cumbria, England
    Coordinates: 54.32700, -2.75030
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This is a disused burial ground now landscaped into a public garden. It is Kendal's earliest Quaker burial ground. Sometimes known as Fellside Quaker Cemetery.

The burial ground on which the small park is now built on, was bought in 1656 by the Kendal Quakers for £9 3s 0d. It was extended to accommodate burials from Underbarrow Quakers chapter when their own burial ground was ploughed up by a 'renegade' member. It was closed to burials in 1855 and in 1863 the graves were levelled and part of the burial ground was made into gardens.
There are three headstones remaining, but there were over 200 people buried here.

Quaker headstones, their removal.
The Yearly national Meeting in 1717 and again 1766 instructed that all headstones be removed from all Quaker burial grounds. Friends were erecting 'vain monuments' over their dead relatives graves. This decision was rescinded later (1850) and simple uniform headstones were used in each area to help relatives find their deceased. Eventually a pattern was agreed, with deceased's name, age and date of death inscribed on a simple locally made stone.

Quakers were unbaptised and were forbidden burial in "consecrated ground" or in church connected graveyards. They buried their dead on private land and would do the same for those forbidden burial in church consecrated land (unbelievers, condemned, suicides etc.).

Beside the typical doorway is a Kendal Civic society plaque.

Source:
- Donald A Rooksby The Man in Leather Breeches, A People to be Gathered, And Sometime Upon the Hills
This is a disused burial ground now landscaped into a public garden. It is Kendal's earliest Quaker burial ground. Sometimes known as Fellside Quaker Cemetery.

The burial ground on which the small park is now built on, was bought in 1656 by the Kendal Quakers for £9 3s 0d. It was extended to accommodate burials from Underbarrow Quakers chapter when their own burial ground was ploughed up by a 'renegade' member. It was closed to burials in 1855 and in 1863 the graves were levelled and part of the burial ground was made into gardens.
There are three headstones remaining, but there were over 200 people buried here.

Quaker headstones, their removal.
The Yearly national Meeting in 1717 and again 1766 instructed that all headstones be removed from all Quaker burial grounds. Friends were erecting 'vain monuments' over their dead relatives graves. This decision was rescinded later (1850) and simple uniform headstones were used in each area to help relatives find their deceased. Eventually a pattern was agreed, with deceased's name, age and date of death inscribed on a simple locally made stone.

Quakers were unbaptised and were forbidden burial in "consecrated ground" or in church connected graveyards. They buried their dead on private land and would do the same for those forbidden burial in church consecrated land (unbelievers, condemned, suicides etc.).

Beside the typical doorway is a Kendal Civic society plaque.

Source:
- Donald A Rooksby The Man in Leather Breeches, A People to be Gathered, And Sometime Upon the Hills

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  • Added: 18 Sep 2021
  • Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 2738352