In West Norwood Cemetery (Greek Necropolis) there are no available graves.

The Mortuary chapel of St Stephen is described as a landmark (Listed Building no. 204529. Grade II).

In Hendon Cemetery graves are available.

In New Southgate Cemetery graves are available.

West Norwood Cemetery

The Hellenic enclosure of West Norwood cemetery is not only an integral part of the history of the Hellenic Community of London but also of the whole Hellenic Nation.

The mortal remains of great benefactors of the newly established Hellenic State after the 1821 War of Independence lie under its Neoclassical burial monuments.

A secluded area of about half an acre was acquired in 1842 to meet the needs of the distinguished members of the Community for their last journey.

The increasing number of Hellenes setting in London, especially between 1835 and 1840, led gradually to the consolidation of a Hellenic Community.

By the end of 1839, the Hellenic Community was solidly established thanks to the leading personality and influence of Pandias S. Ralli.

At the General Assembly held on 6 November 1841, the Community appointed a Committee to accomplish the difficult task of finding a suitable plot for the burials of its members.

On 2 July 1842, they reported to the General Meeting that an arrangement had been made with the South Metropolitan Cemetery Company for a special site in its West Norwood Cemetery to be allotted to serve as the Hellenic Cemetery.

The General Assembly of the Brotherhood unanimously approved to the Committee’s decision and further authorised them to enclose the site of the Cemetery with railings “and empowered them to spend up to £150”.

Thus, by mid-1842, the Hellenic Community acquired its own cemetery.

The plot, 150 feet wide, was 150 feet deep to the right side and 80 feet deep to the left side, thus forming an uneven shape.

The railings, of great artistic value, protect the enclosure and are supported at regular intervals by marble pilasters, adorned with female statues, which slightly exceed the height of the fence.

The most impressive monument in the cemetery was erected in 1872, after the tragic death of Augustus Ralli, a 16-year-old student at Eton College.

His father, Stephanos Ralli, sent a letter on 18 March 1872 to the members of the General Assembly, asking for authorisation from the Brotherhood to build, at his own expense, a small chapel in memory of his son.

The General Assembly gratefully accepted this generous proposal and the churchwardens were charged to express the Community’s gratitude to the donor.

The churchwardens carried out the resolution of the General Assembly and asked permission from Stephanos Ralli to dedicate the Chapel to St Stephen, “in order that the remembrance of this valued gift might remain more vivid in the minds of our descendants”.

Norwood Cemetery contains the remains of renowned Hellenes who laid in many ways the foundations of modern Hellas, bought back to public awareness the Hellenic spirit, honoured their origin and won the respect of the British public.

The cathedral of St Sophia and Norwood Cemetery are reminders of the determination of the Hellenic diaspora to maintain their cultural and spiritual identity not only while in this world but in eternal life as well.

The enormous amount of work and money required to preserve this valuable source of modern Hellenic history is an outstanding debt owed to the founders of the Community by us and future generations.

Contact

To purchase tomb, contact St Sophia's Greek Orthodox Cathedral

 

Address

St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Moscow Road, Bayswater, London W2 4LQ, UK

 

Telephone Numbers

TEL: 0044 (0) 20 7229 7260
FAX: 0044 (0) 20 7243 6144

 

Internet

www.stsophia.org.uk
mail@stsophia.org.uk

 

Addresses of the Cemeteries

West Norwood Cemetery - Greek Necropolis, Norwood High Street, London SE27 (SE27 9JU)
 

Hendon Cemetery & Crematorium, Holders Hill Road, London, NW7 1NB
 

New Southgate Cemetery, Brunswick Park Road, New Southgate, N11 1JJ