Denaby Cemetery Extensions (pictures)

November 1938

Mexborough and Swinton Times November 4, 1938

Pictures taken at Denaby on Wednesday when the solemn consecration of an extension to the Catholic Cemetery took place.

Full ceremonial consecration, an office which Catholics rarely have the opportunity of witnessing, was carried out it the Catholic portion of the Denaby Cemetery on Wednesday, All Souls Day, when extensions to the Catholic section, large enough to accommodate more than 250 graves, were solemnly blessed.

Father C. Lehane, senior curate of St. Alban’s Catholic Church, Denaby, in the unavoidable absence of Father. J. Holohan, parish priest

Father Lehane, who was assisted by Father John Riordan (assistant curate St. Alban’s), was deputed to perform the ceremony by the Bishop of Leeds (Dr. H. J. Poskitt).

A short service in St. Alban’s Church (conducted by Father Lehane), was followed by a procession to the cemetery, in accordance with the usual custom on All Souls Day; members of the Men’s and Women’s Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament of the Catholic Young Men’s Society and of the Sodality of the Children of Mary took part.

The procession was led by Mr. J. Kelly as cross-bearer, and the rear was brought up by the altar boys and clergy, which included Father C. P. Flynn (parish priest), and Fathers F. Holdright and C. P. Scannell (curates), of St. Peter-in-Chains, Doncaster and Dean W. Donkers parish priest of St Joseph’s, Wath.

More than 130 members of the Church took part in the procession, which drew a large number of onlookers.

At the Cemetery the ceremony included a tour of the extensions by Father C. Lehane, with whom .was Mr. T. Dolly as Master of Ceremonies. Both the plot and the congregation were blessed with holy water

The Conisborough and Conisborough Parks Burials Committee; the body sanctioning the allotment of the plot, was represented by Messrs. T. J. Gregory (chairman). H Gomersall and B. Roberts and A Shelton (clerk), who were afterwards entertained to tea at the Presbytery.