The Graveyard

By Pam Cory, Parishioner

The graveyard at St Matthew's has been in use almost as long as the church. The first service in the church was held on 7th February 1869 and the first burial was on the 18th of the same month. It was that of John Foster McDowall, aged 19 of Everton. He died of a fever. It is unusual that a historical graveyard of this age is still in use. The graveyard is in itself a microcosm of the district .

Many of the pioneers of this area are buried here and their names can be seen in the street names and geographical features in the surrounding suburbs.

The McDowall grave, already mentioned, is a large family grave just inside the gate and many of that family are buried there. The McDowall property, called Everton was situated in South Pine Road just north of the bridge over Kedron Brook. This suburb now bears that name. An adjoining suburb is called McDowall.

The graves of the Nicholsons, who owned the land where the church and graveyard are situated are also here. Some years ago, it was moved at a meeting of the parish council that the parish would be responsible for the upkeep of these graves. One grave is that of John and Mary Nicholson of Groveley Lodge and their daughter Olive, and the adjoining one of William Castleman Nicholson, his wife Elizabeth and his step-daughter Kate. William's property was called Hurdcotte and Hillbrook Anglican School is now situated there. Another grave of the family is that of Frances Mary Ridler, daughter of Mary and John, and her husband, Frederick John.

Some of the names of pioneers of the district who are buried here and whose names appear in other areas of the nearby suburbs (mainly streets) are Beckett, Bell (Wardell Street was formerly Bell Street), Collins, Keylar, Lade, Marshall, McGinn, Mott, Pickering and Taylor. Some of these families still worship here.

The grave of Edward Mott deserves particular mention. He worked with the Nicholsons during the building of the church and was buried here in 1900. However in 1939, his remains were moved to Toowong Cemetery to a family grave where his wife, a Catholic who died in 1878, a grandson and a son-in-law were buried. His grave here is still intact - a piece of history.

A large grave near Church Road is that of members of the Hall family. Their property was called Glenalva and was situated near the Enoggera Railway Station where there is now a street called Glenalva Terrace.

Another interesting grave nearby is that of John Massey Vidgen and Emily Vidgen. They were originally buried in the Paddington cemetery before its closure in 1875. The Government was authorised to resume the cemeteries there by 'The Paddington Cemeteries Act of 1911' and relatives of anyone buried therein had 12 months in which to request the removal of any remains and memorials to any cemetery agreed upon. These were the only two to come to St Matthew's.

Two of the more recent burials here were that of Louisa Toogood who founded the Eucumenical Coffee Brigage and Canon Ivor Church, former principal of St Francis' Theological College at Milton.

May they all rest in peace.