The scholar and mystic Lucy Menzies is commemorated in the Calendar of the Scottish Episcopal Church on 24th November.  Following her service as Warden of the retreat house at Pleshey, Lucy took up residence in St Andrews (where her father had been Professor of Biblical Criticism at the University).  The recipient of the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity, a portrait of Lucy was commissioned recently and now hangs in the Hall of St Mary’s College, the School of Divinity at St Andrews.

The site of Lucy’s burial in the Eastern Cemetery by St Andrews Cathedral has not been obviously marked for many years.  Following some investigation, Lucy’s grave (adjacent to that of her parents) was identified and the fallen headstone (featuring a fine Celtic cross and Arts and Crafts-style carvings) has been restored to an upright position over her grave. To mark the occasion, a small party of descendants of Lucy Menzies, along with members of the congregation of All Saints’ Church, where she prayed, gathered at the graveside on Saturday 14th May 2022.  Prayers were led by the Rev’d Canon Dr Alasdair Coles, Rector of All Saints’.  Flowers were laid by Margaret Honey, first cousin of Lucy Menzies.

Attendees then proceeded to Mass at All Saints’ Church, prior to a Reception in St Mary’s College at which speeches were made by Peter Smaill (cousin of Lucy) and Professor Judith Wolfe.

1. Portrait of Lucy Menzies with members of her family
2. Lucy Menzies headstone with clergy from All Saints’, St Andrews

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Mothers’ Union E-news for April 2022

The Rev Bonnie Evans-Hills has been honoured in the 2022 Lambeth Awards for her long-standing dedication to building interfaith relationships.

The Priest-in-Charge at St Margaret of Scotland in Leven, Fife, is one of 37 recipients from across four continents. The awards, announced on Tuesday by the Most Rev Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, are given to people within the Church of England, the wider Anglican Communion, other Christian churches, as well as to those of other faiths and none.

Musicians, activists, clergy, peacemakers and educators are included, alongside people whose quiet dedication to their work hasn’t drawn the public eye.

Ms Evans-Hill was at Lambeth Palace to collect The Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation from the Archbishop. The award was made for “her decades-long passionate dedication to building interfaith relationships at local, national and international level for the sake of a better world”.

Commenting after the ceremony, Rev Bonnie said: “It is a huge honour to receive this, but really the honour belongs to all who have shared their journeys, and stories of courage and love.”

Announcing the awards, the Archbishop said: “The world around us is not as it should be. There is grave injustice and we currently face war in Europe, while Covid-19 continues to cause much grief. But we do not despair. Our faith in Jesus teaches us that we are justified in maintaining hope. One thing which feeds that hope is the work and service of the people we recognise today.”

The Most Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross & Caithness and Primus, said: “We in the Scottish Episcopal Church are absolutely delighted that the Rev Bonnie Evans-Hills has received this award which recognises her long commitment to interfaith relationships. We are also delighted that she is putting all her talents to work on behalf of our Church as Convener of the Provincial Interfaith Relations Committee.”

The current Lambeth Awards began in 2016. Recipients are recognised for contributions to community service, worship, evangelism, interfaith cooperation, ecumenism and education.

(Picture shows the Most Rev Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rev Bonnie Evans-Hills, the Rev Fiona Souter, chaplain at University of Hertfordshire, and the Rev Canon Jane Richards from the Diocese of Chelmsford)