It is thought that there was an original church and a Cemetery at this location. The original Church burned, and then a new one was built. This is the one that we find there today. (2012) Work on the site seems to have started in 1875. The land was purchased from a "Mr Cook", the father of Billy Cook. The site was obviously well planned out because the whole acreage is 5 acres. Today the Cemetery, Church, and the building next door take up part of this 5 acre area. The rest of the 5 acres is rented out.
This year (2012) the cemetery site was expanded by 50 more feet to make room for more folks to be interred there in the future.

Among the first burials seem to be ones in the years 1878, 1899, and 1881. The first one according to the records seems to be for a "Mrs Button", but the name "Ballard" seems to show up as well. However, the stones indicate that it was actually the husband Nicholas Ballard of his wife Elizabeth buried at that time. Possibly the records were to state that she did the actual purchase of the plot when he died.

We need to remember though that the Church was supposedly built right over the graves of the family of George, Martha, Mary, and Ann Smith. The very sad story tells how George and Martha sent their two girls out at night to "Bring home the cattle" from the pasture. A terrible winter storm approached and hit, and the girls became trapped out in it. Mary died as a result of her injuries. Ann did survive. She was taken to the Dolsen's to Mrs Dolsen who had "The Doctor'in Knowledge and Experience". History notes that she removed the legs of little ANN while Ann lie on the kitchen table of the Dolsen's. Martha was soon to die herself, but Ann lived a long life and was very well respected. She was buried with her other family members, and asked that a Church be built over their family's resting place. This explains the beginning of construction of the Church in 1875. Shortly after Ann was buried in the family cemetery. But before the new cemetery was laid out and formed. Rumours persist that a construction worker found "Remains in the form of bones" at the site, but restoration/preservation experience in old cemeteries tells us that with simple wooden coffins and no body preservation in those times it was important to bury remains deeply or animals would dig them up to feed on them. Thus, if bones really were found it is virtually certain that those would have been from farm animals.

This is a unique site of Worship and Burials though rather typically "Anglican" as it has memorials in the walls inside of the building. (See photos.)

See more photographs of the St Thomas Anglican Church Cemetery.