Over 100 people gathered at St Paul’s Church in Bedford on Sunday 15 June for a moving dedication service led by the Bishop of Bedford, the Rt Revd Richard Atkinson, marking the installation of a striking new icon celebrating the legacy of St Etheldreda’s children’s home.
The service, which included prayers and music both inside the church and in the churchyard beside the newly installed icon, brought together former residents and supporters of the Anglican community that once ran the home.
Among the attendees was Sister Hazel Smith, the last of the three sisters who led St Etheldreda’s until its closure in 1992.
She was delighted by the turnout, which included many former residents, affectionately known as “the family”, some of whom entered the home as far back as the 1940s.
“St Paul’s has always housed the life of St Eths and shared a happy, important relationship with the home,” Sister Hazel said. “But many people never really knew what St Eths was about. That’s why I’ve written a book to help tell our story.”
Her book ‘A Tree in Whose Shadow You Can Rest’ explores the history of the Anglican community founded in 1871, and is available at St Paul’s Church for a donation.
The dedication was made possible by an anonymous donor “who had a great love for the Sisters and for St Paul’s.”
Their generous gift funded the creation of a stunning icon mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Christ Child, crafted from Murano glass beads by artist Dr James (Jim) Blackstone of Dunstan Icons.
The image, which now sits outside the church, is a visual tribute to the nurturing love and care offered by the Sisters for over a century.
The service concluded with a special evensong featuring a bespoke female choir directed by Lottie Bagnall, adding a musical tribute to a day full of memory, reflection and gratitude.
Following the closure of St Etheldreda’s Home, proceeds from the sale of its properties were used to establish the St Etheldreda’s Trust, which continues to support the ministry of women in the Diocese of St Albans.
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