The Graves of Doctor John Thomas and Robert Roberts

Doctor John Thomas, the founder of the Christadelphians was buried in the Green-Wood Cemetery, Long Island in Brooklyn, New York after his death on March 5, 1871. Initially he was put in a burial vault after a ceremony conducted by a Brother Ennis on March 6, 1871, but was transported here to respect his wishes when alive to “Put me quietly out of site in some corner” and a second ceremony was conducted by Robert Roberts on April 30, 1871.

His grave can be seen with an obelisk towering over it, a symbol with pagan origins and esoteric significance in ancient times as a phallic symbol, which was a strange monument to erect by those burying him considering his forthrightness about how paganism was in the beliefs and rites of mainstream Christianity. On the right lies the grave of his wife, Ellen Thomas, and on his left is the grave of Robert Roberts who was instrumental in continuing his work and structuring the Christadelphians into a denomination.

The words on his tomb can be seen to read:

HERE LIES IN BRIEF REPOSE

waiting

the return of the Lord

From Heaven

JOHN THOMAS.M.D.

Author of Elpis Israel Eureka,

Anatolia Anastasis Phanerosis

and other works

_____

Born April 12. 1805

Died March 5. 1871

The words on the tomb of Robert Roberts can be seen to read:

HERE LIES

ROBERT ROBERTS

of Birmingham England

Editor of the

Christadelphian. Author

of Christendom Astray

and many other works

who for Forty Years in the

Front ranks of the

Christadelphians

Aided and continued the Work

begun by Dr THOMAS, by whose

side he now sleeps in Jesus

(Can't read dates at end)

Following the burial of John Thomas the obituary seen was published in The Christadelphian magazine, June 1871. This seems to have some extended wording than can be read from the picture of his tomb, although it may simply not follow the printed order and be out of view of the photograph. The obituary also had an unintended error in that it stated “THE LONG-LOST FAITH OF THE JEWS” when it was intended to read “THE LONG-LOST FAITH OF THE APOSTLES.”