Several Cemeteries in Lake County have been attributed to churches, but it is not always the case. There are actually two current church cemeteries and four for cremains in the county. The others have history or proximity. See the history of each cemetery for more details. Baptist -- North Ridge Cemetery in Madison Township was at one time cared for by the Baptist church. It's actual ownership is under question, and it is currently a township owned cemetery. Catholic -- St. Mary's Cemetery in Painesville Township is truly a church owned and operated cemetery. It serves St. Mary's Church in Painesville as well as St. Anthony of Padua Church and St. Michael Byzantine Church, both in Fairport Harbor. Many stones are in Hungarian or Italian. When this small cemetery began to fill, a section of Riverside Cemetery in Painesville was contracted and consecrated for Catholic burials. Section 6 was later dubbed "Father Galena's Section," although it was not formally contracted, most interrees are Catholic. Although there are Catholic burials in most of the county's cemeteries, in the early days many residents were interred in Cuyahoga Cemeteries under control of the Cleveland Diocese. These include St. Mary's, St. Joseph, St. John's, Holy Cross, and after 1893, Calvary Cemetery. More recently, All Souls Cemetery in Chardon (Geauga County) became the most frequent burial place of Lake County Catholics. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) -- Known as the "Mormons." The so-called Temple Cemetery or Mormon Cemetery, actually North Kirtland Cemetery, has always been a public cemetery for the Village of Kirtland. It is the burial place of a large number of the Saints, however, and has great historical significance for both the church and the town. Community of Christ -- Previously known as Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and owners of the Kirtland Temple, is also sometimes credited with ownership of the Temple Cemetery (North Kirtland Cemetery). This church, just like the LDS church, never owned or operated this cemetery, and neither claims to have done so. Congregational -- The First Congregational Church in Madison did, in fact, have a burying ground on the North Ridge east of Hubbard Road, but it and its church are long extinct, we believe. Disciple -- The Disciple Church, now Disciples of Christ, are often credited with part of the Perry Center Cemetery. The section closest to the Perry Christian Church is called the Disciple Section. It seems to predate the other part of the cemetery and does appear to be a church cemetery. However, others are buried there and the church does not claim to have ever had control of it, nor do they have any records for it. The property was deeded in 1804 to the church, but it is not clear that it was ever anything but a public cemetery. Episcopal or Anglican -- Grace Episcopal Church in Willoughby has a Memorial Grove for cremains. St. James Church in Painesville has a columbarium in its sanctuary. St. Andrew Episcopal Church in Mentor (listed as Kirtland Township) also maintains a columbarium. Jewish Jewish residents are usually buried in the cemetery affiliated with the temple they attend. There are none of these cemeteries in Lake County. There are a few Jewish burials in several of the county's public cemeteries. Lutheran -- Zion Lutheran Church (Suomi Synod, now ECLA) does own and operate the Suomi Zion Lutheran Cemetery (Usually referred to as Zion Lutheran) in Fairport Harbor. Only church members may purchase lots in this cemetery, and lot owners determine who is buried in their lots. Many of the stones are in Finnish. Methodist -- Willoughby United Methodist Church in Willoughby operates a small columbarium on church property.
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