Cemetery History
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St. John's Cemetery, Arva (Middlesex Center)
St. John's Cemetery, Middlesex Center is located at the intersection of Richmond Street and Medway Road originally the seventh Concession of former London Township. The legal description is Concession 6, North part of Lot 17, London Township, County of Middlesex (Registered Plan 1028, Part Lot 5, Lots 7, 10) with an acreage of approximately 2.50 acres. This land was donated to the Parish by John Fraleigh on which was also erected a frame Anglican Church in 1832. In 1873, it was replaced with a brick structure. This building stands as a Christian witness by the side of a busy highway, just a stone's throw from the City of London. This hallowed acre is a place where weary travelers may rest and be refreshed to continue on their journey.
The first burial in 1832 was that of Elizabeth Fraleigh aged 51 years and later John Fraleigh aged 75 years in 1849. A memorial stone records the dates of the Fraleigh parents and also the names of their five children who died between the ages of 16 and 24 years. St. John's Cemetery contains a wealth of history of the surrounding area. Many of our ancestors from England, Ireland and Scotland are interred in this consecrated ground.
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On a visit to St. John's Cemetery, memorial stones marks the graves of several Rectors who served at St. John's throughout the years. One of many was Archdeacon Brough for which a suburb of London, mark Broughdale, was named after. This is now in the City of London.
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In 1976 the four rows along west side of of cemetery roadway off of Medway Road was
surveyed and opened to interments.
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Acknowledgement were made to the D. B. Weldon Family for the donation of land to the cemetery on December 30, 1983. This is the area to the west of the Cemetery Roadway off of Medway Road and behind the first 4 rows of graves. It contains approximately an area of 100.7 feet by 360.89 feet.
Another historical addition to St. John's Cemetery is the White Church Cairn. This was originally situated at the intersection of Wonderland Road (Hutton Road) and #22 Highway now Fanshawe Rd. It was the White Church Cemetery which was decertified in 1935 and later a Cairn erected. With the expansion of the City of London and the road widening project, this Cairn had to be moved. In 1990, the Cairn was dismantled and brought to St. John's Cemetery along with the human remains that were interred near the Cairn. After reconstruction of the Cairn, in the St. John's Cemetery a memorial service was held and the containers with the human remains were interred. This is one more way of preserving our past history and honoring our ancestors.
In 2017 Restoration was done on it with funds from the former Arva United Church located on Medway Road east of Richmond Street which had closed. Arva United Church amalgamated with Siloam United Church on Fanshawe Road and now is looking after of the care and maintenance on the Cairn.
A cremation section was established in 1985. This section is just west of the Parish Hall.
In 2000 the first Columbarium was installed north of the Church at Medway Road and Richmond Street.
In 2021 the Columbarium is now expanded to handle present and future Cremations based on plans that were developed in 2000 when the first one was installed.
Acknowledgement must be made to Margaret McCullough who had been Manager at St. John’s Cemetery, Arva for 57 years. She along with many Cemetery Boards and Rectors has developed and enhanced the Cemetery to what it is today. The cemetery will continue to be in good hands as her son Mark McCullough will continue with current and future cemetery boards and Rectors to continue to provide a final resting place at the edge of the City for individuals and families and to provide a peaceful and comforting setting to come to visit their loved ones.