The Grave of Mary Anne Rawson

Mary Anne Rawson, née Read (1801-1887), of Wincobank Hall, Sheffield, was a noted campaigner against slavery. She was a founder member of the Sheffield Female Anti-Slavery Society. In 1827 the Society was the first anti-slavery society in Britain to call for the immediate emancipation of slaves. She died in 1887 and was buried in the family vault at Zion Congregational Church, Attercliffe, where she had been baptised as an infant. We have found 56 other graves in the graveyard. Each has their own special place in Sheffield history.

One hundred years later the church caught fire and was pulled down, the graveyard became overgrown and when local housing was demolished, it was forgotten. In 2017 it was advertised for sale. An offer was made by a local business man who has since bought the adjacent church site to use as a car sales lot. In order to preserve the graveyard and prevent the memorial stones being moved, volunteers formed the Friends of Zion Graveyard Attercliffe, and made a bid to buy the land.

We have made an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund which we hope will be successful, but we still needed additional funds to cover legal fees and other costs that the grant won't cover. We have until January 25th to raise the funds and complete the purchase or the graveyard will go back on the market.

We want to open the graveyard, which has been locked for twenty years, on regular days so that local people can visit and enjoy this green oasis. We want to resurface the paths to make them safe, create a better entrance for the less mobile and provide some seating. Whilst giving access to the graves we will maintain it as a unique heritage site and wildlife garden in an industrial landscape.

Please help us save this important part of our history by joining our campaign, making a donation, and sharing this post. Further information is available on our website. www.ziongraveyard.btck.co.uk