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Some History of St Michael's Cemetery Howard

With Thanks to Benny Spence

And the Women's Institute

Benny tells us that about 1853 a Surveyor for Colonel Talbot owned a farm where much of the cemetery is now located, and he donated 1.5 acres for the use of a cemetery and to construct a Church. Another 1/2 acre was donated by the fellow who owned the Spence farm at that time. Thus leaving a total of 2 acres for the Church and Cemetery.

The Church was originally located about where the large Monument is in the Cemetery today. The Church was originally taken care of by the St Joseph's Church in Chatham. At first the Jesuits until 1873, and then the Franciscon Monks who were at St Joseph's just at that time came out to St Michael's. First they would come once a month to preach a sermon plus doing weddings and burials and such special services. Gradually they did more and more services and finally the small church was closed and a new one was opened in it's present location today in 1880.

The Women's Institute Documentation of the St Michael's History.