The English Cemetery in Málaga welcomes your help
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By Press release - TVSpain - Oct 19, 2008 - 10:47 AM
The English Cemetery is the oldest Protestant cemetery in Spain, established by William Mark who was British Consul in Malaga from 1824 until 1836.

Amongst those buried here are William Mark and his family, the famous British writer Gerald Brenan and his wife, the poet Gamil Wolsey, the Spanish poet Jorge Guilen and Marjorie Grice-Hutchinson, distinguished economist and author of the cemetery’s first Guidebook. Many nationalities are represented, English, American, Canadian, Dutch, German, Polish, Scandinavian and others.

Today the cemetery is a setting of extraordinary charm, a peaceful and quiet paradise in the middle of the city where ashes of any British national who days in Spain could be still placed in a niche. There is a classical temple at the centre with Doric columns, which serves as a church for the lively Anglican congregation gathering every Sunday. It is also a botanical garden with a number of unusual specimens of trees and plants.

While the church is administered by the Chaplaincy, the cemetery, previously owned by the British government, is now the responsibility of The English Cemetery in Malaga Foundation, the President of which is the British Consul in Malaga. It’s board comprises three Spaniards, three Britons, one German and one Italian, and includes three members of St George’s Church. They set up a gift shop in the cemetery Gatehouse, staffed by volunteers, which is providing a very modes but steady income.

The future of both the church and the cemetery is entirely dependent on donations and support. A video has ben recently made by TVSpain.tv to raise the awareness of the cemetery and to appeal for help: see TVSpain - THE ENGLISH CEMETERY IN MALAGA APPEAL, where you can embed this video on your website and sent it by e-mail, download photographs and get more information. See also The English Cemetery website.

In recent years the cemetery has suffered greatly from the ravages of time, and it is now urgently in need of repair and restoration.

A group of volunteers have taken upon themselves the task of raising funds to conserve the cemetery, and for this they have opened a gift shop La Tiendecita and Visitor’s Centre (Tel: +34 952 323 552). Volunteers are warmly welcomed to work in the Gift Shop - please contact Maureen Holden (Tel: +34 952 513 165).
Serving the same purpose of raising funds is the English Cemetery in Malaga Foundation, which is under the guidance of HM British Consul Bruce MacIntyre ( Tel: +34 952 363 723). Any contributions, large or small are very welcomed.

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