The Burial Ground
Surrounding Mount Zion is an extensive monumental burial ground, which contains the graves of people from across the whole of Calderdale e.g., Shibden, Queensbury, Saville Park, Sowerby Bridge and Brighouse. The first internment dates back to at least 1779 possibly 1778. Records of grave ownership go back to 1829. However, there is evidence that people have both worshipped and buried their dead at the Mount Zion site for millennia.
In 1877, a large Collared Urn containing cremation remains was found in a stone cist by a labourer who was digging a grave in the grounds of the Chapel. This is evidence of a Bronze Age settlement at Ogden, around 1,400 years BCE, long before the birth of Christianity. The Bronze Age urn is now on display at the Tolson Memorial Museum, in Huddersfield.
Funerals may still be held at Mount Zion. Burials are only possible in the monumental graveyard for those with pre-existing rights.
We welcome visitors from all over the world who wish to research their family history and are keen to find the graves of their ancestors. The burial ground contains a number of Commonwealth war graves. If you wish to do your own research or locate a particular grave at Mount Zion, there is a comprehensive graveyard plan, database and record of grave sales available on line.
Access to the graveyard is via the farm track along the side of the Chapel. Please note areas of the burial ground are overgrown and may not be safe, so it is advisable to keep to the mown paths, unless accompanied by a Chapel volunteer.
Photo credit: FCP