Old Protestant Cemetery (Macau)

The Old Protestant Cemetery, also known as the Protestant Cemetery or the British Cemetery, is a historic cemetery located in Macau, China. It is significant as a testament to the early presence and influence of Protestant missionaries and merchants in East Asia. Established in 1821 by the British East India Company, it provided a burial ground for non-Catholic foreigners at a time when the only officially sanctioned religion in Macau was Catholicism.

The cemetery houses the remains of notable figures, including Robert Morrison, the first Protestant missionary to China; painter George Chinnery; and several individuals involved in the early opium trade. The presence of these individuals reflects the complex history of Macau as a crucial port city in 19th-century trade and missionary activity.

Beyond its historical significance, the Old Protestant Cemetery also contains a small chapel built in 1821, and a museum opened in 2005, displaying historical information about the cemetery and the people buried there. The cemetery is now a protected historical monument, offering visitors insight into the diverse cultural and commercial interactions that shaped Macau's past. It serves as a tangible reminder of the historical presence of the British and other Protestant communities in Macau during a pivotal period of global exchange.