Some Cemeteries in South India

After the British left India, the Church of South India was formed out of all Protestant denominations. In most cases, if you are trying to find the grave of a Protestant ancestor, find the local C.S.I. church and ask the pastor. If he cannot help you, he will generally find someone who can.

MADRAS

The Madras Cemeteries Board

300 Kilpauk Garden Road Madras 600-010 ph. 611 506

The Board manages all Christian cemeteries in Madras. The Honourary Secretary is L.Joseph. If you have any questions about any of the Christian cemeteries in Madras, you should address them to the Board.

Fort St George, Madras

St Mary's Church

The headstones have been removed from their original locations, but can still be viewed around the church. All the headstones have been transcribed and are listed in a booklet entitled 'A Walk Around St Mary's'. Only the very earliest burials took place here, as the churchyard quickly filled up. Once St Mary's was full, the British Cemetery was opened.

Pallavan Salai, Madras

Old British Cemetery

This is a huge cemetery and very overgrown. Although the grounds are in poor condition, most of the headstones appear to be intact, which is unusual for India.

Presbyterian Cemetery

This small, derelict cemetery is not marked on any maps. It is near the overpass of Pallavan Salai near the Old British Cemetery. An old lady, who apparently lives on the grounds, has a complete listing of all the inscriptions. She speaks no English, and will simply hand the booklet to any person of European appearance who wanders into the cemetery. If you visit, you should tip her.

Washermanpettah Cemetery

(Washermanpettah is an area of northern Madras) This is a huge and very disorganised cemetery. Although the burial records of my ancestors showed that some had been buried at Washermanpettah Cemetery in the nineteenth century, I was unable to find any graves earlier than the 1940's. It is possible that there may be more than one cemetery, although the locals assured me that there wasn't, or alternatively I may just have not gone to the right spot within the cemetery.

Pursewalkum Cemetery

This is the burial ground for St Matthias' at Vepery. The cemetery has had many of the headstones demolished to build a Tamil church. When I visited in 1993, half of the remainder was under water. Nevertheless, I found the graves of two of my ancestors. To get to this cemetery, you will need to visit St Matthias' on the corner of V.K.Sampath Road and Vepery High Road, and ask for a guide. It is about a 15 minute walk.

MADRAS SURROUNDS

Poonamallee

ph.57 2009

This is a large and ill-kept cemetery. Unfortunately, many of the monuments have had their slate tablets removed, probably to use as building materials. To get to this cemetery, take a taxi or auto-rickshaw along Poonamallee High Road. It is about 30 minutes by road from Madras to Poonamallee.

Pallavaram

The former Anglican church is St Stephen's (ph.40 1472). You can catch a train or bus to Pallavaram. From the train station, walk to St Stephen's, which is just off the highway, and ask the pastor for assistance

ARCOT & VELLORE

The English Cemetery at Arcot

Arcot English Cemetery has graves from 1806 onwards. I was guided there by a doctor, who was asked by the local pastor of St Mary's Church, Ranipet. Ranipet is on the other side of the river from Arcot, but was the 'Arcot church' in the nineteenth century. The cemetery was very poorly preserved and most of the monuments had their slate tablets missing.

Vellore

Central Church

Has graves from 1788 to 1865, but they appear to be only of officers and their families.

Protestant Christian Cemetery

Has graves from 1870 onwards. Well preserved and cared for.