The Kenilworth Methodist/United Pioneer Cemetery is located between Kenilworth and Arthur, Ontario, in Arthur Township. The site of the cemetery was home to the Kenilworth Methodist/United Pioneer Church which was open from 1854 to 2001.
At the front of the cemetery there is a monument (shown in the photo above) which possibly may have been made from some of the old foundation of the previous church. The inscription on the monument reads: Dedicated to the memory of pioneers, members, and all who worshipped here from 1854 until deconsecration in 2001. For those who aren't familiar with the word 'deconsecration' (I was one of them) wikipedia states that it "is the removal of a religious blessing from something that had been previously consecrated for religious use".
There was said to be a discussion of the church being sold to be used as a private residence, however since the church was surrounded by a graveyard this would not be able to happen. According to the Arthur Historical Society the church held its final service on Sunday, September 12, 2001, additionally celebrating its 147th anniversary on the same day.
The Cushing and Waters families both have a number of graves here too, with one especially notable family member: veteran Milton Samuel Waters. Waters served in the Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment) 1st Battalion. He was killed in France while in action during the first World War. An arrangement of roses is carved at the top of the headstone, showing one fully bloomed and two unopened buds. This may be because Milton died at the age of 23 and his brother, Percival, also shown on the stone, died at around age 30. When closed or semi-bloomed flowers are shown on headstones or monuments it could be referrencing the short life of a child, teen or young adult.
Another significant symbol seen in this cemetery is that of a small, stone lamb on the top of a headstone. This grave belongs to a child by the name of Margaret. A lamb on a headstone usually alludes to a child to has passed away or as a reference to a lamb of Christ, a traditional Christian symbol.
A personal point of interest was a small stone in the back left corner of the cemetery. The stone appeared to be inscribed with the year span 1898-1899 but I was unable to make out the name carved above. As seen in the photo below, the headstone is partially buried and coming out of the ground at a backward angle. It appears this little headstone may have been victim of the elements and been covered and pushed at an angle over time. Most other headstones look to have been maintained, polished or cleaned, so it is unclear why this one headstone is off on its own in the corner and has not been restored in the same way. Perhaps with some more time and investigation more information can be discovered about the person who this stone belongs to.
Reference Credits to:
Arthur Historical Society
https://www.findagrave.com/