The 2024 Memorial Service
will be held at the Cemetery on
June 16, 2023 at 2:30 PM
Reverend Trish Miller of Leeds Anglican Ministries will lead the service and Gary Bracken will provide the music.
Remember to bring a lawn chair or blanket.
Board Report
A financial statement is included with this newsletter.
Operating expenses for 2023 were $10,656.51. Net operating income for 2023 was $9,005.00 including a one-time grant of $723.10 from the Township of Leeds and Thousand Islands.
Donations continue to be an important source of revenue for the Cemetery and the Board thanks everyone for their continued financial support.
As the Cemetery’s Care and Maintenance and investment funds increase gradually we anticipate that they will provide a sustainable income stream in the future.
The Board is pleased to welcome a new Board member, Cameron Morris, replacing his father, Glenn, who recently retired.
A Picnic Table
The Cemetery Board acknowledges the gift of a picnic table from the
Township of Leeds and Thousand Islands, a welcome addition for regular
visitors to the Cemetery.
Trees, Shrubs, Flowers and other Decorations
We are pleased to see the flowers that have been planted by some families and we encourage others to do so. Flowers should planted be within one foot of the monument.
Other mementos should be placed where they do not interfere with mowing. For safety reasons glass containers will be removed.
Please mark artificial flowers and wreaths with your name or the name of the grave so that errant wreaths can be returned to their proper place. Damaged and faded items will be removed.
A Message from the Board
As a cemetery board we are responsible for the management and upkeep of this cemetery forever – that’s right FOREVER.
In the past the cemetery was maintained by volunteers to a standard that was acceptable to the community; lot prices were low and little thought given to future maintenance.
Today standards are higher and there are increasing government regulations. Every year expenses exceeds the income from lot sales and investments but we are fortunate to have many supporters whose donations over the years have helped meet these expenses and to slowly build up our endowment fund.
We encourage you to think about how you might help the cemetery as we move into the future. Consider a legacy in your will that would ensure financial stability for the cemetery.
Or you may want to become involved more directly. The Baptist Cemetery Board is a volunteer organization and we welcome anyone who is interested in being a board member or participating in any other capacity. Please contact the secretary-treasurer if you are interested.
Transfer of Interment Rights
Interment rights can be transferred by sale, gift or bequest. All transfers must be supported by documentation acceptable to the Cemetery Board. Unless specified in a will or a letter of authorization the transfers of interment rights from a deceased interment rights-holder is determined by the Succession Law Reform Act.
The Board strongly suggests that interment rights-holders make the necessary arrangements for any intergenerational transfer of interment rights.
Historical Notes
The following item appeared in The Christian Guardian on February 26, 1873:
William Isbister was born in Scotland and came to Canada about three years ago from Baltasound, Shetland Islands. He bought a farm, and was earning money to pay for it working for Mr. Collinson of Leeds Township. Mr. Collinson’s mother cared for him in his illness. He died of consumption, February 9, 1873 in his 21st year and was buried in Leeds [Lillies] Cemetery. He had no relatives in Canada.