Race against time to record memories of historic Loxley Chapel ahead of 240th anniversary
Volunteers caring for Loxley Cemetery are appealing for personal recollections and photographs of the ruined Grade II*-listed chapel before its 240th anniversary in 2027.
Volunteers caring for Loxley Cemetery are asking for help from anyone with memories of Loxley Chapel as they prepare to mark the 240th anniversary of its opening in 2027.
The Friends of Loxley Cemetery (FoLC) want contributions for a booklet about the chapel’s history, including recollections of christenings, weddings, funerals, Sunday School or regular services. They fear the number of people able to share first-hand memories is falling fast.
The group was formed in 2019 to tackle decades of neglect at the site and now has volunteers working throughout the year to clear and maintain the cemetery. The volunteers aims include restoring the graveyard so visitors can safely reach all the grave plots, protecting the site’s appearance and environmental integrity, and improving access to historical records.
Loxley Chapel was built in 1787 and closed in 1992. The Grade 2* listed building was originally an Anglican church before being rented out in 1798 to Protestant Dissenters, or Independents, who later bought it.
At its peak, the chapel could hold 1,000 worshippers and, according to the Religious Census of 1855, drew an afternoon congregation of up to 200. It was also the setting for nearly 2,000 baptisms, 134 weddings and nearly 10,000 funerals, and had a flourishing Sunday School.
The chapel and graveyard became privately owned when services ended and later fell into neglect. The chapel was badly damaged in a serious fire in 2016 and is now a roofless ruin.
The churchyard covers just over ten acres and is divided into two sections. The oldest part surrounds the chapel on three sides, with the first recorded burial dating from 1806, while an extension lies above the chapel alongside Long Lane.
The cemetery, though not the chapel itself, is now maintained by volunteers under the auspices of FoLC. The site includes graves of note, including 13 War Commission graves and graves of some of the victims of the Sheffield Flood of 1864.
Anyone with memories of the chapel can contribute through a short online form at https://e-voice.org.uk/friendsofloxleycemetery/ or arrange to speak to the group by telephone or face to face. Those who prefer direct contact can text Peter Easter on 0777 830 5219 or email [email protected] to arrange a meeting. The group is also seeking photographs of the chapel and cemetery to add to its collection.