Walking Tour of Historic Thornhill - Holy Trinity Burying Ground plaque

F2 SIDE TRAIL, HOLY TRINITY CEMETERY, Yonge St. near Royal Orchard Blvd. This cemetery, dating back to 1830, is worth a visit. You may walk north on the west side of Yonge St. to Royal Orchard Blvd, or drive and park in the small lot or at the shopping plaza across the street. This was the cemetery for (Holy) Trinity Church now moved to Brooke St. (see #8). Col. Moodie, the first victim of the 1837 Rebellion, is buried here. There are also monuments to Benjamin Thorne, village founder, and to the Edey family. Many other prominent Thornhill families are buried here.

Back to Holy Trinity Cemetery image.

Thornhill Settlement Village plaque.

Holy Trinity Burying Ground
Thornhill's first official cemetery was in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church built on this site in 1830 and moved to Brooke Street in 1950. The Parish Hall was added in 1928 and serves a Baptist congregation. The historic burying ground remains to serve parishioners who have settled here since the early 1800's.
The oldest headstone, dated 1804, commemorates Rebecca Willson who fled New Jersey with her family as Loyalist refugees in 1793. Other headstones record the drama of immigration and rugged settlement, War in 1812, Rebellion in 1837, fire, flood, epidemic and of greater wars.
The reality of daily life is dominant. These men, women and children lived by the seasons, working with their hands and minds to create our community.

PEACE

Erected by the Society for the Preservation of Historic Thornhill and Holy Trinity Anglican Church, with the assistance of the Ontario Ministry of Culture and Recreation. 1983.

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