It was a dry but windy day on Saturday, 18 October – typical Wellington weather, but that did not discourage visitors to the Mount Street Cemetery open day!
The Friends of Mount Street Cemetery hosted an open day for people to visit and experience the cemetery. They were on hand to describe the history of the cemetery, its connections to early settlers and the Catholic community in Wellington, and conservation efforts. It was a time of reflection and sharing stories – with a few laughs along the way.
Located near Victoria University of Wellington’s Kelburn campus, Mount Street Cemetery is Wellington’s first Roman Catholic cemetery, consecrated in 1840 by Bishop Pompallier, and used for all Catholic burials until Karori Cemetery was opened in 1891.
The Friends of Mount Street Cemetery is a group established under the Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington in 2010 to lead activities to restore the burial sites in this historic and sacred ground; to establish full records; and to conserve the landscape of the Cemetery as an amenity for all.
For more information, please email contact@mountstreetcemetery.org.nz
Website:
www.mountstreetcemetery.org.nz
