Bishop petitioned by Countess to dedicate window

Friday October 16th 2009

The Dean greets HRH Countess of Wessex and Dame Mary Peters at the Cathedral. The Bishop of Connor dedicated a window in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, commemorating the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC) on Wednesday October 14.

The Rt Rev Alan Abernethy was petitioned to dedicate the memorial window by Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex, Colonel-in-Chief of the QARANC.

More than 500 serving and retired men and women and their families attended the interdenominational service which recognised the dedication and work of thousands of military nurses.

The memorial window to Army nurses. Her Royal Highness was greeted by Dame Mary Peters, DBE, Lord Lieutenant of Belfast. The Countess the met Colonel (retired) Rosie Kennedy CBE, Colonel Commandant QARANC, and the Very Rev Dr Houston McKelvey, Dean of Belfast, who conducted the service.

Before joining the congregation the Countess also had the opportunity to meet a number of other guests including Major Bunnie Foulkes, chair of the Northern Ireland Branch of the QARANC Association, Belfast Mayor Councillor Naomi Long, MLA, and Health Minister Michael McGimpsey, MLA.

For the formal dedication of the window, the Dean escorted HRH to the south side of the Sanctuary where the window was installed in 2007. Here the Countess petitioned the Bishop of Connor to dedicate the stained glass memorial, depicting the Corps’ badge, in remembrance of the service given in times of peace and conflict by members of the Corps.

In his address the Dean said the window had been an ‘almighty challenge’ to represent the story of the dedicated and costly service of Army nurses since 1854. “It is a story which has its origins in the Crimean War and the insights and experiences of Florence Nightingale and her pioneer companions. It is a story which is inseparable from the very backbone of British and Commonwealth history, of service in war and peace,” he said.

Dame Mary and the Countess singing during the service. He spoke of the ‘costly professional and personal sacrifice’ of the Queen Alexandra’s and of their need to respond almost continually to changes in medical facilities and to new medical insights gained in battlefield hospitals and research institutes.

Dean McKelvey said: “Fundamentally, this window seeks to honour a story about people. People who played their part, who when the call came answered, and when danger came, stood their ground, caring all the time.”

Following the service Her Royal Highness was guest of honour at a QARANC reception in the Cathedral hall. She received an engraved crystal rose bowl presented by Corporal Ellen Taylor in recognition of her visit.

Major Bunnie Foulkes, chair of the Northern Ireland branch of the Corps Association. Bishop Alan (right) dedicates the memorial window in St Anne's Cathedral.