Graveyard
The Chapel was opened in 1853 but the first burial was in 1852.
Elizabeth
the beloved wife of
Thomas Gregory
of Shelf
who died in August 1852
Aged 50 yrs
The graveyard is divided into two sections, the old part, opened 1852 and the new part, first burial 1939.
This was John William Stead on April 17th 1939. The old part contains 1,376 graves and the new part 78 graves but plenty of room for more.
There are 4945 people buried in Bethel graveyard more than lived in Shelf, according to the2011census
Anyone wishing to trace graves please email the Graveyard secretary [email protected]
A CD is available for £10 listing all the 4945 people buried at Bethel
The graves and the area around should be maintained by the owners but as time went by more and more were neglected so in 1986 the trustees placed the following in the notice in the appropriate places.
Elizabeth
the beloved wife of
Thomas Gregory
of Shelf
who died in August 1852
Aged 50 yrs
The graveyard is divided into two sections, the old part, opened 1852 and the new part, first burial 1939.
This was John William Stead on April 17th 1939. The old part contains 1,376 graves and the new part 78 graves but plenty of room for more.
There are 4945 people buried in Bethel graveyard more than lived in Shelf, according to the2011census
Anyone wishing to trace graves please email the Graveyard secretary [email protected]
A CD is available for £10 listing all the 4945 people buried at Bethel
The graves and the area around should be maintained by the owners but as time went by more and more were neglected so in 1986 the trustees placed the following in the notice in the appropriate places.
BETHEL CHAPEL SHELF
Notice is hereby given that at a meeting of the Bethel Chapel Shelf Trustees held on February 25th1986 the following resolution was passed at the request of the congregation namely
“That the original (old) graveyard be closed forthwith. It is proposed to remove kerbstones and most headstones with a view to landscaping the area”.
Any authorized person wishing to obtain further details of the said proposed works and wishing to make any representations in respect there-of in relation to the preservation or removal of any particular headstone or kerbstone now situated in the said graveyard are required to communicate in writing to the undersigned on or before May 31st 1986.
N. Firth, Chairman of the Trustees, 194, Halifax Road, BD6 2JR
Only 12 objections were received and these were dealt with to everyone’s satisfaction.
This landscaping took place with the help of community workers and now looks a well maintained area
befitting the people buried there.
Notice is hereby given that at a meeting of the Bethel Chapel Shelf Trustees held on February 25th1986 the following resolution was passed at the request of the congregation namely
“That the original (old) graveyard be closed forthwith. It is proposed to remove kerbstones and most headstones with a view to landscaping the area”.
Any authorized person wishing to obtain further details of the said proposed works and wishing to make any representations in respect there-of in relation to the preservation or removal of any particular headstone or kerbstone now situated in the said graveyard are required to communicate in writing to the undersigned on or before May 31st 1986.
N. Firth, Chairman of the Trustees, 194, Halifax Road, BD6 2JR
Only 12 objections were received and these were dealt with to everyone’s satisfaction.
This landscaping took place with the help of community workers and now looks a well maintained area
befitting the people buried there.
The Memorial Wall
In 1958 it was decided to build a Memorial wall. This was extended in the 1970s and the wall from
Shelf Wesleyan Church was added in 1980.
Another extension was added in the 1990 to make 185 niches for ashes.
A further extension was built in 2005
A picture of Bethel Wall, 1958
In 1958 it was decided to build a Memorial wall. This was extended in the 1970s and the wall from
Shelf Wesleyan Church was added in 1980.
Another extension was added in the 1990 to make 185 niches for ashes.
A further extension was built in 2005
A picture of Bethel Wall, 1958
Mr Alfred Ashworth of Shelf built the original Bethel (1958) and Witchfield (1959) Walls.
The Methodist Union organised and paid for the transferring of the
Witchfield wall to Bethel.
Mr G. Tumelty of Bankfoot built the extension in 1990.
Picture of Memorial Wall taken January 2002
The Methodist Union organised and paid for the transferring of the
Witchfield wall to Bethel.
Mr G. Tumelty of Bankfoot built the extension in 1990.
Picture of Memorial Wall taken January 2002