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On a beautiful sunny Sunday  in May more than 200 people turned out to visit the Open Day at the cemetery and crematorium.

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The crematorium chapel was the venue for visitors to meet with the St.Helens Council Bereavement team, local funeral directors, stone masons, the Citizens Advice Bureau and The Friends of St.Helens Cemetery.

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Visitors were given a guided tour of behind the scenes at the crematorium, encouraged to talk with the bereavement team about 'Dying Matters' , meet with funeral directors and discover the history of the crematorium, chapel and the cemetery. 

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Myths surrounding cremation were  dispelled on the cremation tour, questions  and advice about burial, funerals were answered by the professionals in attendance.  Feedback from the open date was positive and complimentary. People who had worries about death and dying matters had some way been someway reassured by the visit. 

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The Friends of St.Helens Cemetery (FOSCG) opened the old mortuary chapel for a limited time for visitors to have a look inside this 1858 Anglican Mortuary Chapel. The only survivor of 3 chapels built for the opening of the cemetery in 1858.

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 A self guided tour was available for people to visit notable sites in the old section of the cemetery ad provided by FOSCG .  Valuable archive items from the cemetery and the St.Helens Archive library was also available for viewing.  

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The bereavement team, funeral directors and FOSCG  were available at Newton Cemetery the previous day with display boards, information on funerals, and historical archives of Newton Cemetery.

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A really successful event which is hoped can be repeated in the not to distant future. 

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