St James Church dig up 2,500 bodies, including slaves

**Spike** · 10-09-2008

Originally Posted by Cadfael

Is nothing sacred? Can't people rest in peace? It just smacks of money again.

Firstly they plonk a stupid rabbit on the tower which will have cost thousands, now some rich money grabber wants the land for new offices and is prepared to dig up hundreds of bodies.

Is true, but when i went up there two weeks ago i could not see a gravestone? i may have missed them as workmen where there. If there is no gravestones, then maybe it would be better to move them, this way they should get some kind of marker and can be remembered. i for one had no idea that there where ex slaves buried there, letting the public know would be a fantastic tribute to them.

The grave yard down below the Anglican Cathedral, is this not connected to St James? im sure i read it somewhere? ( mind you im sure some people are aliens ) i could be wrong? is this graveyard older than the cathedral?

**Ronijayne** · 10-09-2008

Anyone have a photo of this church and churchyard as it looks now?

**Waterways** · 10-09-2008

Originally Posted by Ronijayne

Anyone have a photo of this church and churchyard as it looks now?

Do a Google

**A.D.W** · 10-09-2008

Originally Posted by Ronijayne

Anyone have a photo of this church and churchyard as it looks now?

and

**taffy** · 10-09-2008

Originally Posted by Spike

Is true, but when i went up there two weeks ago i could not see a gravestone? i may have missed them as workmen where there. If there is no gravestones, then maybe it would be better to move them, this way they should get some kind of marker and can be remembered. i for one had no idea that there where ex slaves buried there, letting the public know would be a fantastic tribute to them.

The grave yard down below the Anglican Cathedral, is this not connected to St James? im sure i read it somewhere? ( mind you im sure some people are aliens ) i could be wrong? is this graveyard older than the cathedral?

All the gravestones bar one were taken away at the turn of the 20th C by Liverpool City Council and the grounds turned into an ornamental garden . It's a shame these grounds have largely been neglected over the last 100 years, no least the crumbling wall bounding Upper Parliament St. Would it were a Green Flag Park like St Nicholas , Pierhead, where also all the gravestones and bodies were removed around 1900.

There's no connection I 'm aware of between St James Churchyard and St James Cemetery.

**taffy** · 10-09-2008

Originally Posted by Ronijayne

Anyone have a photo of this church and churchyard as it looks now?

See Church web site

Homepage | Pioneer Ministry in Liverpool City Centre

Also

Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerk Project - Parish of St James, Toxteth

and

St James Church in Toxteth

**Kev** · 10-09-2008

Excellent pics AD and thanks for the posts, really helpful and informative.

**Ronijayne** · 10-10-2008

Thank you so much for the pics. It has been a beautiful church, the 'bones' of it are lovely although it looks cold and lonely now.

**taffy** · 10-10-2008

Here's a few internal photos I took in 2003 following some internal refurbishment, rewiring , plastering etc.

**naked lilac** · 10-11-2008

It definitely, by the pictures, needs some flowers in my opinion to brighten it up ...

**Kev** · 10-11-2008

Thanks for the pics

**taffy** · 10-11-2008

Originally Posted by naked lilac

It definitely, by the pictures, needs some flowers in my opinion to brighten it up ...

The church has been a wreck for 30 years suffering the ravages of vandalism and arson following its closure. Part of the rationale behind themulti million pound project is to bring the church back to life. Flowers will look nice but it will take a lot more than that !!!

**Klaatu** · 10-11-2008

This is a fascinating and informative thread. I've walked past that church literally hundreds of times over the years and knew none of this information.
I hope it all turns out for the better and they treat the bodies with the utmost respect.

**naked lilac** · 10-12-2008

Originally Posted by taffy

The church has been a wreck for 30 years suffering the ravages of vandalism and arson following its closure. Part of the rationale behind themulti million pound project is to bring the church back to life. Flowers will look nice but it will take a lot more than that !!!

Yes, I understand that fully Taffy. I have read about this task.. I was just commenting on the pic, that just captured my eye , as bleak.. Just a little comment of open thought there..

Glad something is being done about restoring it.. and hopefully, they due take care in the respect of the bodies.

**Cadfael** · 10-13-2008

I think it stinks to be honest. Moving bodies for a purpose such as a church extension or when a church has been demolished is one thing - i.e. for the good of the congregation, but to move bodies simply because there will be a load of money to be made in this project stinks.

Whether the church is redundant or not, it is in that state for a reason, simply because there are no church goers who continued to support the church. For the church to re-open, there has to be a need of a new congregation, not just because someone can make a load of money out of it.