This is a PRIVATE website owned by John Skakel. Contact us HERE
Cemeteries Office Staff have asked that users NOT contact them with questions directly.

Some History of The Saint Ignatius Cemetery, Bothwell

With Thanks to Marion Matt

With information taken directly from a Statement by Heritage Chatham Kent a Municipal Heritage Committee, and History of St Ignatius Cemetery Bothwell by Marion Matt.

The St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Cemetery is an active, privately owned cemetery, located at 30200 West Bothwell Road. The legal description of the property is, Part lot 15 Concession 8, in the former Township of Zone, in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
(42.543783°N, 81.97108°W)

Catholic immigrants came to the Bothwell area and started holding services in the homes of Crotty, Dillion and Cartier in 1852, Marie Aurore Zesobe was the first child baptized that year. The community welcomed with enthusiasm the dedication as the first wooden frame structure was built by William Lavin, a parishioner. The church bell was generously donated by Mrs. Scully and sponsor Joseph Dillion; it was named and dedicated John Ignatius and has a peel and toll feature. The bell was peeled as a call to mass for parishioners until closure in 2007.

Before the new St Ignatius Cemetery was opened, previous burials were made in the Wardsville Church Cemetery. However, once the new St Ignatius was opened, Paul Dalton moved many bodies of parishioners to the new cemetery and donated the original cross.

The St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Cemetery is of cultural value, as being the only active Roman Catholic cemetery for the former township of Zone, and the community of Bothwell. When the Honourable George Brown established the town of Bothwell in the early 1850’s, he made land provisions for the building of all churches, but decreed that there would be no cemeteries within the town limits. St. Ignatius Cemetery was established in 1904 and consecrated by Rt. Rev. Fergus P. McEvrey on June 1, 1905. Non-Catholics objected strenuously to the location of the cemetery being so close to their homes. Threats were made that they would prevent any burials occurring on the grounds. On the occasion of the first funeral held for William Burke, Father O’Neil had a bodyguard present, but no attempt was made to carry out the threat.

Prior to the closing of St. Ignatius Church on June 22, 2007, the St. Ignatius Advisory Council formed a committee to enhance the cemetery grounds. The committee had a monument constructed in the form of a steel effigy of the church, which is clad in yellow and red brick, and houses the original church bell named “John Ignatius”. The grounds were enhanced with cedar trees and white fencing while the entrance was embellished with black rod iron, and a new sign. On June 17, 2007 a dedication service in commemoration to all the parishioners of St. Ignatius Church was celebrated. The gravesites within the cemetery provide us with a vast amount of knowledge into the lives of the inhabitants of Bothwell and the surrounding rural community. The use of markers and monuments to perpetuate the memory of the individuals interred within its quiet and peaceful grounds, also contribute to the overall culture of its natural landscape.

Over the 150 years 4078 Baptisms, 1101 Marriages, 346 Funerals, 1315 Confirmations, and 1128 First Communions were celebrated.

Description of Heritage Attributes
Key attributes of St. Ignatius cemetery that reflect its cultural value as an important link to the History of local area include:
-
The original markers and monuments, with their surviving inscriptions.
-
The variety of styles, materials, and symbolism represented in the markers and monuments.
-
The range of size and sophistication of markers and monuments, from the modest to the elaborate.
-
The monument, an effigy of the church, is clad in yellow and red brick and houses the original church bell named “John Ignatius.”

Key attributes of the cemetery that reflect it’s value as an example of a 19th century rural municipal cemetery design in south-western Ontario.
-
The location, dimensions, and orientation of the cemetery within the surrounding cultural landscape.
-
The monuments, sculptures and structures.
-
It’s park-like setting, including mature trees and open area to be developed as a meditation park.
-
The original plan and placement of the gravesites, monuments, and markers.