Cemetery May Close

Dateline: Sunday 28th April 2002

FROME DISSENTERS CEMETERY MAY CLOSE

This was the headline in the Somerset Standard on Thursday 18th April.

As the Trustees struggle with minimal income to keep the Cemetery in a state such that it is accessible to the relatives of those buried there, and to others interested in researching our heritage, a Special Open Meeting was called, for Wednesday, 24th April, to guage local interest in maintaining it. Twenty two people (plus the Trustees) attended the meeting and were unanimous in wanting the Cemetery to remain open.

Founded in 1850 by the Free Churches of the town, (Baptist, Congregational, Methodist etc,) the only internments now permitted are for ashes, following cremation, or in family plots which still have space.

During the past 4 years, the wilderness which the Cemetery had become, has been transformed into a haven of tranquility, a fitting memorial to the many Frome men and women of both high and low estate resting there. This includes eleven War Graves.

A few months ago, some look-ups for people on various mailing lists were made. A number promised to send donations to the Secretary/Treasurer, but sadly, the meeting was informed on Wednesday that the total receipts were NIL.

Now that the majority of the graves are accessible, it has been suggested that those which have readable headstones or monuments be photographed:
that the registers be transcribed and fully indexed:
and that the whole be put onto a CD, which the Trustees could sell to raise some funds.

Following notification of a number of expressions of interest, this project is now under way (see updates).
This page has been moved. Up to 17th August over 1,000 people had visited it.