Hi everyone, I have found out that a few of my ancestors were buried at Moor Lane Baptist Chapel between 1832 and 1845.The chapel closed about 1864 but I have been unable to find out what happened to the grave records and I wondered if anyone knew. I have checked with Bolton archives but they have no records.They where able to tell me that the congregation from the chapel joined Claremont Baptist Church but that they had no graveyard. Also if a church closes what would happen to the graves ?Would they be left there or would they have been moved ? Any help gratefully appreciated,kind regards Kath Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

Hi Kath, I've no information about burials, but just in case it's any help, Manchester Central Library have the film: Baptisms-1803-1836 Ref MFPR 267 Rgds, Bob Thornley, Bolton From: "Kathryn Hale" <kathhale23@yahoo.co.uk> < snip> I have found out that a few of my ancestors were buried at Moor Lane Baptist Chapel between 1832 and 1845.The chapel closed about 1864 but I have been unable to find out what happened to the grave records and I wondered if anyone knew. <snip>

I'm sure someone will have more detailed knowledge of this church but a number of the churches in central Bolton closed their graveyards mid-1800s. I believe many of the bodies were moved to the municipal cemeteries at Heaton and Tongue and re-buried. In many cases however the gravestones remained. For example the gravestones in the old graveyard at the Parish church were left along a wall piled on top of each other. However, I do know a number of the M.I.s were noted before they moved to their present position and the booklets on these are indexed in books and microfilm at Bolton Local Studies Library. Barbara