English Cemetery Malaga |
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| Details | |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1831 |
| Country | Spain |
| Location | Malaga |
| Type | Anglican cemetery |
| Number of interments | 1,000 + |
(Spanish: Cementerio Inglés de Málaga) Anglican Cemetery, Cemetery of St. George or English Cemetery is the oldest non-Roman Catholic Christian cemetery established on mainland Spain.
Contents |
The English Cemetery in Malaga, where St George’s Anglican Church stands, is the result of the inspiration and concern of William Mark who was British Consul in Malaga from 1824 until 1836. In the eight years he had lived in Malaga before his appointment as Consul, he had looked “with great disgust” on the way Protestants had to be buried on the sea shore at dead of night. Because those who profess a different creed other than Catholic could not be buried in the consecrated ground, namely; in parish churches , monasteries and cemeteries of Malaga.
Due to his persistent efforts, he was finally given permission to create a permanent cemetery on the Velez road outside the walls of the city,thanks to the Royal Order of Fernando VII , issued on April 11 of 1830 .The adjoining mortuary is now the church library.
The cemetery covers over 8,000 sq. m. and contains more than 1000 graves. The cemetery is also a botanical garden with a number of unusual specimens of trees and plants. With several well-known people buried there, it has become one of Malaga’s historical sites.
During the years immediately after 1830, the cemetery was greatly extended, and in 1839–40 a “lodge temple” was built in classical style with a small chapel and incorporating the cemetery guard’s dwelling. With its fine Doric columns, this structure was adapted and enlarged in 1890–91 to become the present St George’s Anglican Church.
In 1856, a Gatehouse was constructed in Gothic style at the entrance to the Cemetery. While the church is administered by the Chaplaincy, the cemetery, previously owned by the British government, is now the responsibility of The English Cemetery in Malaga Foundation, the President of which is the former British Consul in Malaga. Although the cemetery had been the property of the British Government since its inception, no funds had been provided for its upkeep for many years. The English Cemetery in Malaga Foundation was formally established on 21 June 2006. Its Board comprises three Spaniards, three Britons, one German and one Italian, and includes three members of St George’s Church.
In 2005 the cemetery Gatehouse, for many years the home of the cemetery gardener, was very beautifully renovated and now houses a small Visitors' Centre and gift shop as well as providing space for St George’s Church lunches and other activities. The Gatehouse is staffed by volunteers, mainly from the church, and is providing a modest but steady income for both the church and the cemetery.
A few of the notables buried here are: