Cemeteries are not only resting places for loved ones, but also a great source for learning the history of a locality and its people. The British Cemetery in Lisbon is one such informative resource. Just a stone's throw from the Estrela Cathedral, it serves as home for the only English speaking Anglican Church in Lisbon. At one time, the British weren't allowed to bury their dead within the city. As its population grew, treaties with Portugal were made to change this rule. In 1654, Oliver Cromwell and King Joao IV came to an agreement for land to be set aside for a British Cemetery. However, opposition from the Inquisition delayed implementation of this agreement until 1717. In the beginning, it was known as "St. George's Cemetery." Amongst the notables buried here, the most famous is the novelist Henry Fielding. Well..."buried here" may not exactly be the correct term. It seems that no one really knows where his actual burial plot is. Instead, there is a raised monument "tomb" dedicated to him in the cemetery. There is one non-Brit laid to rest amongst all the other graves. The first U.S. Consul to Portugal, Thomas Barclay, who was appointed by George Washington died in Lisbon in 1793 and was interred in the British Cemetery. By 1882, the British community felt the need for their own Anglican Church. So they constructed the Church of St. George in the center of the grounds. The group caring for the cemetery is very dedicated to its tasks, coming together weekly to spruce up the grounds. While we were exploring the cemetery, we had the opportunity to meet a number of this group and discovered that they're also very friendly; taking a keen interest in our story and inviting us to join one of their weekly get togethers. It was a fun time.
RSS Feed
