How to Find Us 

You can visit the grounds of Roundhay St. John at SatNav LS8 2LE or OS Grid Ref. SE3370237256.  
 
Parking is available in a car park adjacent to the main Wetherby Road. There is a limited amount of parking on the church drive for anyone carrying heavy gardening equipment, or for any visitors with disabilities. 
 
In May 2024, the Pentecostal City Mission erected Heras fencing while repairs are being carried out to ensure the safety of people walking near the church building. That fencing has cut off access to our shed with all our tools, and to some of the interesting graves including the Luptons and Middletons. They do not at this time know how long the repairs will take. 
 
To access an extraordinary aerial video of St. John's Church by Dean Woodward, please click the link below or the image. This shows the continuity between Roundhay Park and St John's Church; they had both been part of the original Nicholson estate. 
The magical southern graveyard at St John's which has become somewhat overgrown over recent years. One of our wonderful volunteers Wendy has worked tirelessly and with great enthusiasm during the summer of 2024 to reveal a significant number of the graves in all their Victorian glory. We think you’ll agree her hard work has certainly paid off. 
Also, see below a video of the north churchyard taken in November 2024, again by our volunteer Wendy. 
 
We are always delighted to hear from anyone who would like to join our friendly group of volunteers and we can tailor jobs that need to be done - from those looking to just prune etc and carry out light gardening to those who want to work off stress by getting stuck into mowing or strimming the grass and undergrowth etc. All will be warmly welcomed, of whatever age or ability; appropriate tools will be supplied. 
 
Gardening Parties take place on the first Saturday of each month throughout the Summer. Please meet at the church at 10am. 
The first meeting will be on Saturday 3rd May 2025 at 10am, followed by meetings on 
Saturday 7th June 
Saturday 5th July 
Saturday 2nd August 
Saturday 6th September 
Saturday 4th October 
 

  Our Work in the North Churchyard 

The Friends of Roundhay St John's Church was formed in early 2014. Trustees were appointed, meetings were held and working parties formed to renovate the north churchyard (which was opened in 1932). Rubbish and brush were cleared from the driveway and the curtilage of the church and, through generous donations, we have been able to purchase lawnmowers, strimmers and various other pieces of landscaping equipment. We repaired parts of the wall in the north yard, and some of the headstones which had also collapsed have been re-erected.  
 
The circular garden at the top of the driveway, which was badly overgrown, has been neatly planted with flowers and bulbs and finished off with an attractive kerb. The Friends have planted many flowers and bulbs in the north yard too, the grass is cut and the monuments are clearly visible. The north yard is once again becoming a peaceful and attractive place in keeping with its purpose so that subsequent visitors should not leave disappointed. Since spring 2024 further work has been ongoing; the North churchyard is now accessible with care underfoot. We will carry out restricted mowing now until June to allow the bulbs to die back and the wildflowers to seed. 
 
We are proud of what we have accomplished in a comparatively short time but St John's Church still remains on the Leeds Buildings at Risk register. 
 
 
In May 2024, the Pentecostal City Mission erected Heras fencing while repairs are being carried out to ensure the safety of people walking near the church building. That fencing has cut off access to our shed with all our tools, and to some of the interesting graves including the Luptons and Middletons. They do not at this time know how long the repairs will take. 
 
15/4/24 

Work On The South Churchyard 

 
In early 2015 The Friends initiated work on the south churchyard, providing a line of sight from the gate to the west door; the remainder was partially cleared in the winter of 2015/16 by a company employed by the current owners. The southern graveyard at St John's has become somewhat overgrown during recent years.  
 
Although most of our members are local or regional, others have joined from different parts of the country and abroad but retain ties with the area. Some members have met people from around the world on the church property who have specifically journeyed to St John's to see the graves of ancestors.  
 
 

Churchyard Gallery 

 

1999 map of the graves at Roundhay St John's church, which may help those searching for relatives' graves. 

Spring 2024 

November 2021 

North churchyard 2021 

July 2022 open day 

South churchyard after clearance in 2015/16 

Bulb planting, November 2023 

South churchyard pre-clearance in 2015/16 

September 2024 Heritage Trail 

 
 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission memorial 

“We honour and care for the men and women of the commonwealth forces who died in the first and second world wars, ensuring they will never be forgotten.” 
 
There are also private graves of those who died in the Second World War in other parts of the North yard. 
 
Because the South Churchyard, containing these particular graves, has been designated an unsafe area due to subsidence, the CWGC memorial was installed at the top of the driveway in January 2018. It is inscribed with the names of those who died within the requisite dates 4th August 1914 to 31st August 1921 (First World War) and 3rd September 1939 to 31st December 1947 (Second World War). 
 
- Gunner H Stubbs, who died 16 March 1917, 
- 2nd Lieutenant H Marsden, who died 5 June 1918,  
- 2nd Lieutenant H Cullingworth who died 30 October 1918,  
- Private F B James who died 11 Feb 1919,  
- Private F G Ryder who died 4 November 1919 ,  
- Corporal N C Hemingway who died 30 April 1946. 
 
 
Many of those fallen during the world wars of the 20th Century are buried or commemorated at St John's
 
Fallen during the First World War - of the 900 who joined the Leeds Pals [the 15th Battalion (1st Leeds) The Prince of Wales Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)], who saw action  
at Ypres and the Somme, 750 were killed. 
 
At the battle of the Somme 1 July to 18 November 1916 
Thomas Galloway JAMES killed in action July 1st 1916. 
Lionel Martineau LUPTON was killed in action at the Somme on 16th July 1916 aged 24 years 
2nd Lieutenant Charles Henry MITCHELL 1/6 West Yorkshire Regiment, killed in action September 3rd 1916 at the Somme after taking a German trench, aged 25 years. 
2nd Lieutenant Thomas Arthur Ellicott WILLEY, Prince of Wales Own (West Yorks) Regiment, killed in action July 1916 aged 19 (body never recovered; memorialized on his family's tombstone). 
 
At Passchendaele July to November 1917 
Lieutenant Herbert Cheetham aged 20 years killed in action 9th October 1917. 
Victor Gamble was killed at Ypres on 5th May 1917. 
Norman Jackson, killed in action at Ypres on July 9th 1916. (memorialized on the family gravestone in the north churchyard) 
Norman Stevenson, killed in action at Ypres on July 9th 1916. (memorialized on the family gravestone in the north churchyard) 
Gordon Westrope, aged 32 years killed in action on 10th November 1917. 
 
The following are listed as killed in France 
Thomas Henry BAIRSTOW R.E. died in France February 7th 1919 aged 35 years. Interred at Denain Military Cemetery, France. 
Reginald John BURN killed in France 17th Sept 1918 aged 18. 
Ernest A.G. CLARKE killed in France 21st Sept 1918 
John Wilford CURTIS killed in action in France October 7th 1916 aged 40 years. 
Thomas Galloway JAMES killed in action July 1st 1916. 
Henry Herbert JEFFERSON killed in action in France May 17th 1918 aged 21 years. 
Willie (HOLDER) Pte. K.R.R. Killed in action in France November 22nd 1917 aged 26. 
Captain LILLIE 9th K.O.Y.L.I. died in France December 18th 1916 aged 26 years. 
Captain Charles Roger LUPTON D.S.C. 205 Squadron R.A.F. killed in action in France May 9th 1918 aged 19 years. 
Maurice LUPTON killed in action in France, June 19th 1915 aged 28 years. 
Francis LUPTON killed by a hand grenade in France, February 19th 1917. 
 
Died as a prisoner of war 
Reginald PEAT who died Prisoner of War Nov 1st 1918 aged 21 years. Interred at Cassel, Germany 
 
Unkown place of death 
Harold CULLINGWORTH 2nd Lieutenant K.O.R.L. Reg. died October 30th 1919. 
Private F. G. RYDER Royal Army Service Corps 4th November 1919 aged 31. 
 
Those who died due to sickness or injuries incurred during the war years 
Kenneth Hill IVES 8th West Yorkshire Regiment who died 9th December 1914 aged 22 years of typhoid/pneumonia in York Military Hospital. 
Brother Derrick IVES RA Sub Lieutenant HM Submarine H10 who died January 1918 aged 21 years. “They died in the service of their country” 
Harold MARSDEN (2nd Lieutenant). 3rd battalion West Riding Regiment who died at home 5th June 1918 in his 26th year after serious illness contracted whilst on active duty in France. 
Gunner Henry STUBBS RFA, died in Newcastle Military Hospital March 16th 1917 aged 31years. 
Sidney Scratchard WAINWRIGHT who passed away January 29th 1925 aged 29 years as a result of war services. 
James WOOD M.B. Ch.B. served in the 1914 - 1918 war, being made a Lieutenant in the RAMC on 25th August 1917; he served in England and in France and reached a final rank of Captain). He died December 16th 1932. 
 
The Fallen of the Second World War September 1939 - September 1945 
Andrew ANDERSON MB BS Lt./Col I.M.S. died in Poona 27th March 1944 aged 29years. 
Robert Geoffrey BARR(sub Lieut. fleet air arm pilot) killed on active service 23rd March 1944 in his 21st year. 
David BIRDSELL killed in action in Italy Sept 8th 1943 aged 22 years. 
Reginald Hodgson CHESTER died on active service Feb 24th 1941 aged 29 years 
Mario CURZON 1919 - 1971. Boze Daj Wieczny Spokoj (God grant eternal peace) 
Sgt John DAVIES R.A.F. V.R. killed in action Sept 7th 1940 aged 22 years. 
Cpl Geoffrey DAVIES R.E. killed by enemy action June 13th 1941 aged 22 years. 
Sgt Cyril Frederick DENBY, Duke of Wellington's Reg't. killed on active service May 22nd 1942 aged 29 years. 
Sgt Dennis Arthur DOUTHWAITE R.A.F. V.R. missing from operations 10th May 1942 aged 23 years. 
Sgt George Charles DYNES R.A.F. V.R. killed on operations 27th March 1943, aged 21 years. 
Pilot Officer J.E. FOX DFC Royal Air Force 10th July 1944 age 35. 
Flying Officer R.M. GALE wireless operator R.A.F. 8th April 1945 aged 24. 
G.T. HUGHES Petty Officer Airman FX 114001 Royal Navy 25th Nov 1944 aged 19. 
Jack INGHAM killed in action in Greece April 1941. 
Flt Sgt (NAV) Thomas Dennis INGLE R.A.F. V.R. aged 23 years. Lost in air operations over Freiburg Nov 27th 1944. 
Gerald John KEARNEY surgeon Lieutenant Royal Navy lost through enemy action by the sinking of HMS Daring on the 18th February 1940 aged 28yrs. 
Kenneth Austin MALLINSON killed in action in Burma 15th June 1944 aged 32 years. 
Thomas MARSHALL fleet air arm killed on active service 24th Feb 1942 aged 22 years and rests in Trinidad B.W.I. 
Squadron Leader David A. PENNY M.R.C.O.G. Royal Air Force. 6th Feb 1971 aged 36. 
Sgt Cyril M.ROBINSON R.A. died on active service, June 27th 1942. 
Robert Dudley ROPER, Surgeon, Lieutenant R.N.V.R. died February 2nd 1941 aged 34 years. 
Driver B. SMITHERS 1903821 Royal Engineers 18th May 1942 aged 27 years. 
Rifleman L.D. SOMERTON The Rangers (10th Bn. K.R.R.C.) 18th April 1945 aged 18. 
Major J.E. STEPHENSON, 3/2nd Gurkha Rifles killed in action in Burma 8th Sept 1944 aged 30 years. 
Pte E.F. STEPHENSON R.A.O.C. killed on active service 27th Aug 1943, aged 27 years. 
Sgt Pilot Herbert SWALES RAF VR killed on active service 21st May 1942 aged 24 years. 
James Frederick VALTERS died Prisoner of War in Poland aged 19 years." (no date of death) 
Company Sgt Major L.L. WITTON 7th West Riding Bn Home Guard 5th Aug 1941 aged 48. 
William Raymond, Sergeant Royal Marines died 13th February 1943 aged 23 years. 
 
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM 
 
 
 

Remembrance 2021 

 

April 2024 forget-me-nots 

Contact 

Fill in the form below and a member of our team will contact you shortly from roundhayfriends@gmail.com