St. Michael's and All Angels, Tonge

Burial records between 1839 and 1920 have been added to the database. It is hoped that details of later burials can be obtained and added. The burial records contain little information about burial plots and work is underway to identify these from stone transcriptions and other records.

The Church was consecrated on Oct 5th 1839 and the first burial in the churchyard was on December 3rd of the same year. By 1874 the churchyard was filling up and around an additional 3300 square yards of land was donated by the the then Vicar (Rev. James Porter). This "New" Churchyard was consecrated in Nov 1874.

In 1899 a notice was served {under the Burials (Beyond the Metropolis) Act 1853} prohibiting new graves in the old part of the Churchyard

In 1901/1902 the Church building was extended to the East and in 1930 the tower was erected, Both the extension and the tower would have covered existing graves.

In 1973 Middleton Council took over the maintenance of the old part of the Churchyard. It is probable that the stones were removed at this time and the current lawns created.

Layout

 From the grave references we have so far obtained, the yard is split into 3 areas. The Old Ground is to the South and West of the Church building. Most stones in this area have been removed but some were used to from paths to the south and around the tower.
The New Ground appears to be a rectangle to the South of the Old Ground.
The Lower Ground appears to be a "L" shape following the West and South Walls.

Further research is necessary to determine grave numbering.

Original Church before the extension and tower were added