English Cemetery, Málaga Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
English Cemetery in Málaga
*Cementerio Inglés de Málaga*
Details

Established	1831
Location	Málaga
Country	Spain
Type	Anglican cemetery
No. of interments	1,000 +

The English Cemetery in Málaga, also known as the Anglican Cemetery or Cemetery of St George, is a very special place in Spain. It is the oldest non-Roman Catholic Christian cemetery on the Spanish mainland. This means it was the first place where Christians who were not Roman Catholic could be buried in this part of Spain.

A Special Place in Málaga
Gallery
See also

A Special Place in Málaga

How the Cemetery Started

The English Cemetery in Málaga, where St George's Anglican Church now stands, was created thanks to a kind and determined man named William Mark. He was the British Consul (a representative for his country) in Málaga from 1824 to 1836. Before he became Consul, he had lived in Málaga for eight years. During that time, he was very upset by how Protestants had to be buried. They were buried on the seashore, often at night. This was because people who were not Catholic could not be buried in the usual churchyards or cemeteries in Málaga.

William Mark worked very hard to change this. Because of his strong efforts, he finally received permission to create a permanent cemetery. This permission came from King Ferdinand VII on April 11, 1830. The new cemetery was built on the Vélez road, just outside the city walls. The building next to it, which was once a mortuary, is now the church library.

Growing Over Time

Soon after 1830, the cemetery became much larger. In 1839–40, a beautiful "lodge temple" was built. It had a classical style with a small chapel and a home for the cemetery guard. This building had lovely Doric columns. Later, in 1890–91, it was made bigger and changed into the St George's Anglican Church we see today.

In 1856, a gatehouse was built at the entrance to the cemetery. It was designed in a Gothic style.

The cemetery covers a large area, more than 8,000 square meters (about 2 acres). It holds over 1,000 graves. The cemetery is also a botanical garden. It has many unusual types of trees and plants. Because several well-known people are buried there, it has become one of Málaga's important historical sites.

In 2005, the cemetery gatehouse was updated. For many years, it was the home of the cemetery gardener. Now, it has a small Visitors' Centre and a gift shop. It also provides space for St George's Church lunches and other activities. Volunteers, mostly from the church, work at the Gatehouse. This helps bring in some money for both the church and the cemetery.

Who Looks After It Now?

When it first started, the British Government owned the cemetery. However, for many years, no money was given to help keep it up. After several years of work, a new group was officially created on July 13, 2010. This group is called the English Cemetery in Málaga Foundation.

The Foundation is now in charge of managing the cemetery. Its board (the group of people who make decisions) includes three Spaniards, three Britons, one German, and one Italian. Three members of St George's Church are also on the board. The church itself is managed by its Chaplaincy. The President of the board is a former British Consul in Málaga.

Famous People Buried Here

Many interesting people are buried at the English Cemetery. Here are a few of them:

Robert Boyd (1805–1831), a person who wanted to change the government. He sadly died during an attempt to overthrow King Ferdinand VII.
Gerald Brenan (1894–1987), a British writer.
Geoffrey Beyts (1908–2000), a British Brigadier. He was the one who told Elizabeth II that she had become the Queen after her father passed away.
Marjorie Grice-Hutchinson (1908–2003), an English economist.
John Goodnow (1868–1907), the United States Consul General in Shanghai.
Jorge Guillén (1893–1984), a Spanish poet. He was part of a famous group of writers called the Generation of '27.
Aarne Haapakoski (1904–1961), a Finnish writer.
Henry Hamilton Bailey (1894–1961), a very important author of medical textbooks about surgery.
Gamel Woolsey (1895–1968), an American poet and novelist.