{{Short description|Ancient burial ground in Belfast, Northern Ireland}} {{use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{use Hiberno-English|date=January 2022}} {{about|the cemetery in Belfast|the cemetery in Lurgan|Shankill Cemetery}} The '''Shankill Graveyard''' is one of the oldest cemeteries in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
It was used for active burials for more than 1,000 years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/community/cemeteries/shankillgraveyard.aspx|title=Shankill Graveyard – Belfast City Council|website=www.belfastcity.gov.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-11-26}}</ref> Since 1958 it has no longer been an active burial site. The oldest standing headstone was erected to the memory of George McAuley who died in 1685. The gateways and railings are listed as being of historic and architectural interest.<ref name=":0" />
In 1872, at the corner of Shankill and Woodvale Road, St Matthew’s Church of Ireland was reconstructed.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=olIdDAAAQBAJ&q=shankill+graveyard&pg=PT167|title=Belfast Through Time|last=Campbell|first=Aidan|date=2016|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|isbn=978-1445636603|language=en}}</ref> St Matthews Church takes its name from the first church that was built in the Shankill Graveyard.<ref name=":1" />
== Notable burials == * Ambrose Sterling from North Belfast was buried in the Shankill Graveyard. Ambrose had been refused entry into the army at age 14, however he enlisted into Royal Flying Corps in 1918. While serving in France he died due to the flu.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CA10r6kQZZcC&q=%22Shankill+Graveyard%22++North+Belfast+sterling&pg=PA146|title=Belfast Boys: How Unionists and Nationalists Fought and Died Together in the First World War|last=Grayson|first=Richard S.|date=2010|publisher=A&C Black|isbn=978-1441105196|language=en}}</ref>
== Reference list == <references />
== External links == * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udf11Q0dJjY Video tour of the Graveyard by the SASH Group] * {{Find a Grave cemetery}} * {{cite web|title=Historic Building Details (Shankill Graveyard Gateway, Boundary Wall and Railings)|url=https://apps.communities-ni.gov.uk/Buildings/buildview.aspx?id=8660&js=false|publisher=Department for Communities }} ''Includes "Exterior Description And Setting" and "Historical Information" section.''
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Category:Cemeteries in Belfast