(Preface): The following document is a compiled, scanned and edited copy of the original history printed by Reverend C. Newlands for the 1993 visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury and 70th year of Dedication celebration. The Document in its original form, begins below, at the heading "Introduction". This document was optically scanned from the original "hard copy" publication and converted to text with OCR, which allows the possibility of character/form errors. Since the core tradition of any Anglican Church is British, spell-checking, grammar, and hyphenation for "Queen's English" was selected. Yet, since the congregation includes a diverse cross-section of British, Australian and American citizens, any term or abbreviation that is not universal may have been substituted with the full term (such as "Reverend" for "Revd" without period). As an exception, abbreviated terms of royalty (example, "H.R.H." for "His/Her Royal Highness" in any form or context) have been retained. In an effort to update this history, Church Members are requested to send any format/form/content suggestions, corrections and historical additions to the editor's e-mail address (in Note 1 below). Many exact dates (month/day) for many events already added (identifiable by an asterisk: *) at the end of the Time line Tables (pages 014, 017, and 022) are unknown as of this edit. Anyone with precise information, or additional time line events from 1993 to present, please e-mail data in .TXT/.RTF format, or enclosed directly in E-Mail text body to danasaur@schloss.ro (do not send MS .DOC format, all MS.DOC format attachments are rejected by my server). For document format compatibility, some special characters such as umlauts and unique Romanian characters are absent (until final editing of this manuscript). To allow precise checking of the document integrity and accuracy, the original page-format of the Newlands hard copy are retained, so you may refer to the document (page one, beginning with the "Introduction" heading below, is referred to as "001"). Once the document has been checked and verified (projected to be the 2nd week of Nov. 2002), this "001-022" format will be removed (as will this preface), and the text will be rejoined into an uninterrupted singular document format. -Dana Stienheimer, October 2002
(Begin, original Newlands' text, page one):
INTRODUCTION
The latter part of the 1980s saw changes in Eastern Europe which could not have been foreseen by even the most optimistic observers. The local churches were very much involved in the revolutions in Poland and Czechoslovakia, as well as in the Romanian Revolution. The advent of democracy to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe has brought greater freedom to the churches in these countries, and this has also brought more opportunities for the Anglican Church to develop its ministry to the English speaking communities there, and to work alongside the local churches in their witness to the needy of their countries. Anglican services have now been held in Moscow, as well as in St. Petersburg and even further afield within the former Soviet Union; as well as in Bucharest. Permanent chaplaincies are now established in Moscow, Prague, Budapest, and Belgrade, from which we cover other cities, such as Kiev, Sofia, Warsaw, and Zagreb.
The Church of the Resurrection in Bucharest has, however, a unique record as the only Anglican church which continued to hold Anglican services from the time of its dedication in November 1922 until the present day, with the, exception of four years during the Second World War, from Christmas Day 1940 to Christmas Day 1944, when Bucharest was occupied by Nazi forces.
This booklet is an attempt to summarise the history of this church and chaplaincy in Bucharest. From the comments in the Church Registers, faithfully recorded by successive chaplains, we car see the events which have shaped this country in the last turbulent years of its history. By looking at the historical context we can also see how the role of the church has evolved into its present ministry here, and how it is now seeking to work with people of all nationalities as they make their own contribution to the life of Romania.
We are also concerned for the future and the place which the Church of the Resurrection will have among the English-speaking community in Bucharest in the years that are to come. It is for the Church's development and future ministry that we have launched our 70th anniversary appeal . We need money to ensure our mission here well into the future, and in the immediate future, we are planning to fund two important projects.
Firstly, there is no permanent accommodation for the Chaplain in Bucharest. In recent years chaplains have lived in the vestry of the Church, which was converted into a small flat. As the Church has expanded, this has become too small for the needs of the Church, or for the needs of a Chaplain, who is now appointed for a period of three years. We have at present a rented flat for the use of the Chaplain, though the cost of this is very high. We. need to be able to buy a flat to offer more cost-effective accommodation for chaplains.
Secondly, there is a great deal of relief work going on in Romania with organisations from the West, working closely with Romanian hospitals, orphanages, and other organisations. The volunteers who come out here are in great need of support in the demanding work they do. Often the Chaplain will visit them in their places of work, and be available for them to talk to when they feel the need. But that is not enough to meet the needs of the community here. 'That is why we see the need for a Counselling Centre for the English-speaking community in Bucharest. We hope to make this a reality by including rooms in the Development Project, which could be used for this purpose A suitable building would need to be bought (or even built) and furnished, A Christian charity is hoping to fund two full-time counsellors to work within the Church team here. We also need some rooms which could be used for meetings and other purposes, as well as a parish room.
This is merely a summary of who we are in the Church of the Resurrection, Bucharest. The pages which follow give a more detailed account of our history, our current ministry, and our plans for future development. If there is any way in which you can help us,we would be very grateful for your assistance, and above all for your prayers to support us all in the work we do here, in God's name.
EARLIEST RECORDS
The earliest records of the Church of the Resurrection, Bucharest date from the 1860s, although there had been an Anglican presence in Bucharest since 1850 under the auspices of the Church's Mission to the Jews. On July 22 1862 (August 2) the burial of a Katherine Hoabowsky took place, and in September 1868. the Reverend F.G. Klenheim presided at a marriage service according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England in the house on Strada Olteni where the London Jews' Society Mission was based. Joseph Lee, Bachelor (sic), a merchant of full age, married Eliza Wiest, Spinster, the daughter of the artist Louis Wiest on September 12 (24)1. Though the Mission to the Jews had existed in Bucharest since 1850, it was Mr Klenheim who began the story of the Church of the Resurrection, by his inauguration ration of a fund to raise money to build an Anglican Church in Bucharest, and there is a record of an appeal for funds in August 1881, collected by Mrs Klenheim.
He was succeeded in 1888 by the Reverend J. Muhlenbruch, though it seems that nothing was done during his incumbency to further the raising of funds for the building of the proposed church. It was not until the appointment of the Reverend R. Stewart Patterson as Chaplain of Bucharest and the Danube ports in 1896, that sustained efforts were made to raise the money necessary to build a church.
In 1900, Sir John Kennedy, British Minister to Romania, obtained the grant to a piece of land at the junction of Strada Pictor Verona and Strada Xenopol, very close to the pleasant Gradina Icoanei (The Park of the Icon) from the Commune of Bucharest in a deed of gift dated 2 December, 1900. Plans were received from a distinguished -architect for an ambitious building project which would have cost 6,000 Euros, whereas only 3,000 had been raised from public subscription at the time. A meeting was held to consider more modest proposals but plans were shelved in 1907, and services continued to be held for the small British community in the church room, belonging to the "Mission to the Jews" in Strada Olteni.
A visitor to several such services wrote the foIlowing accounts of her visits to the church rooms. Though it was not completely flattering, it paints an interesting picture of life in Bucharest at the turn of the century:
Please thank the rector for his kind enquiries as to my spiritual welfare. There is an English service held in a big hall all the winter and spring; it is reverent and quiet. The chaplain is a kindly old man, rather deaf.1 His sermons are dull. A young man plays the harmonium with as much spirit as that bored instrument permits, and we sing psalms and hymns lustily.
The Crown Princess generally comes; two chairs and a piece of crimson carpet are always put ready for her and her lady-in-waiting. It is a pleasure to see her, she is so pretty and well-dressed, and her church deportment so edifying.
The chaplain is anxious to get a little church built, but funds are not forthcoming, Money would be needed not only for building, but for upkeep as well, and the English community is small and poor. It consists chiefly of English governesses. The British Minister's wife is a charming woman and kindly; she has G.F.S. parties for tea and needlework .3 I love going, she puts on no airs, and treats us all so pleasantly; it seems like a little bit of EngIand.
By the way, King Carol is a Roman Catholic 4; so is his heir and nephew, the Crown Prince Ferdinand. The Crown Princess is an Anglican; we often see her at our services, I sit quite near her and admire her during the dear old chaplain's dull sermons; we gather 'round the door outside and watch her drive off in her quiet little brougham after a few pleasant words to those she knows in the congregation.
THE ROYAL FAMILY OF ROMANIA
The role of the Royal family in the history of the Church of the Resurrection in Bucharest cannot be overstated. Princess Marie of Edinburgh was the daughter of the Duke of Edinburgh, and granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Upon her marriage to Crown Prince Ferdinand of Romania5, it was necessary that as Crown Princess, and later as Queen Marie of Romania, she should be a member of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
This was naturally also the case for the children of the Royal Family, Queen Marie, however, remained a regular communicant in the Anglican Church until her death in 1938, though her own personal religious tradition was a mixture of many influences, including a strong interest in tire Baha'i teachings which had been brought to her attention by an American, Martha Roote. Although her deportment may have been edifying to an observer, her personal diary revealed that she was in complete agreement with the author, regarding the passage above.
November 12th, 1924, Cotrocini (sic)
Memorial service for dear aunt Alex (Queen Alexandra Of England) in the little English Church - very simple, unpretentious, but too cold and formal for my taste - just an honour - that is all. H. M. government present - everyone in full dress and decoration.
Sunday, February 21st, 1925
Went to the English church with Ileana, but what I call a poor service. 11 really pray better at home with my Baha'ullah books and teachings which have brought me such a message lately, the message in fact I have always been waiting for.
After Queen Marie's death, a chalice and paten were donated to tile Church in her memory. These are still used at the Sunday services of Holy Communion. There are several entries in the Church registers which record visits by members of the Royal Family to the Church Room, and latterly, to the Church of the Resurrection.
During the short but painful illness of Prince Mircea in 1916, a special service was held for his recovery. Sadly he died shortly afterwards of typhoid fever at the age of three. Queen Marie's daughters, later to be Queens of Yugoslavia and Greece also attended frequently. The five year old King Michael paid a private visit to the Church in the company of his mother, Queen Helen, and his grandmother, Queen Marie, in 1929, and Princess Ileana (born in 1909) the daughter of Queen Marie attended frequently with her mother. Princess Ileana died in the U.S.A. in 1991, where she had founded an Orthodox monastery for nuns. In 1991, she wrote to the son of the then Chaplain, Mr J. Howard Adeney, on the influence which the Anglican Church. and in particular, Mr Adeney, had had in her formative years. The list communication the church received from Princess Ileana was a Christmas letter in 1988, addressed to Ian Sherwood, then Chaplain of the Church of the Resurrection in which she wrote:
I hope that you will not forget meŠ and I would be grateful not to lose contact with the Church of the Resurrection if this is possible. Please pray for us. I do not forget vou in my simple prayer. - Mother Alexandra.
THE BUILDING OF THE CHURCH
In 1911, the funds available for the building of the Church amounted to 100,000 lei. and the original plans for a stone-built church were modified, and it was decided to build the church in red brick., In 1913 the foundations were laid, the property being vested in H.M. Office of Works in England. It was stated that the church building was to be regarded as being British, in the same degree as the Legation buildings. The fabric was completed in 1914. but the outbreak of the First World War made it impossible to complete the interior furnishings, which had been ordered from England.
The Bishop of Gibraltar, Dr Knight, gave the Holy Table (sic), Crown Princess Marie secured 15,000 lei from charitable funds of King Carol 1, and these were also added to the maintenance fund. She also promised 5,000 lei towards the building and installation of an organ. After the war was over, it was proposed that the building of the organ should be the Victory Thanksgiving Offering. The first service held in the completed church was on Easter Sunday (April 4th) 1920. Until that time, services had been held in the premises of Strada Olteni, or in the new rooms which Mr Adeney had built in 1919 on Strada Negustori as part of the Mission to the Jews. During the war the rooms on Strada Olteni had been requisitioned by the Red Cross Society for use as a hospital. On 10 November 1918, the Chaplain's register notes that British prisoners of war attended a service in the church, with a German sentry. In that same afternoon, the Germans began a hurried evacuation of Bucharest and Romania.
THE Reverend J.H. ADENEY, Chaplain 1900-21
In 1900, at the age of 31, the Reverend J. Howard Adency was appointed Chaplain to the Church's Mission to the Jews in Bucharest, where they already had a large school, which had been founded in 1850 in Strada Olteni. Although Mr Adeney was in England for the course of the Great War, his assistant, the Reverend H.E. Cullis remained in Bucharest throughout the war, and during the German occupation worked with British prisoners of war in the local American hospital. In 1919, Mr Adeney returned to Romania where he founded a second school in Strada Negustori, and in 1921 the two schools had 500 girls from the age of four to twenty, 75% of whom were Jewish. Until 1914, most of the teachers were German, and after the War, most were recruited from Switzerland. Mr Adeney preached in Romanian, and in German as necessary, and he was assisted in his work for the Society for Jews by two colporteurs, Messrs. Corn and Iritz, who travelled the length and breadth of the country distributing Gospels and tracts wherever Jews were to be found.
Mr Adeney also worked closely with a former Orthodox priest, Comilescu, who preached to a Protestant congregation in Bucharest, and who was responsible for translating the Bible into modem Romanian. (His translation is still used by the Bible Society for their Romanian editions.) The Evangelical Romanian Congregation under Tudor Propescu was also allowed to meet in the Webster Memorial Hall, which had been erected in the memory of Emma Webster, the first Mrs Adeney, who had died in 1906 giving birth to a son.
The use of the Society's Hall for the Evangelical congregation caused much disapproval from the hierarchy of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The Archbishop of Canterbury was asked to intervene, and though the discussions which followed had begun with some conflicting views, they did eventually lead to a dialogue between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Anglican Church which has since been a source of many blessings for both churches. Mr Adeney was Chaplain until 1921, and oversaw the building of the present church, the fabric of which was completed in 1914, though not fully used until 1922. Although no longer officially the Anglican Chaplain, Mr Adeney remained in Bucharest working in his school right up until 1939, when he was appointed (at the age of 69) travelling secretary for the Church Mission in England. From 1921 many chaplains were appointed who made significant contributions to the life of the Church. The earliest photographs we have of the church date from 1938, and feature the Reverend Hugh Farrie (Chaplain 1931-38) sitting in the choir-stalls, with the painting by Mr Coverly-Price (which had been dedicated on Easter Day, 1934) over the High Altar.
THE SECOND WORLD AND THE RISE OF COMMUNISM
The Church of the Resurrection was closed for the duration of the war after the Christmas Day service in 1940, when, as the registers record, there were 33 communicants.
It reopened again on Christmas Day 1944, with the assistance of the Royal Navy and American military staff, although at that stage, and for many years thereafter, there was no possibility of engaging a full time Chaplain. During the war, the church was cared for by Maria, who had been the church guardian and cleaner since 1922. She was paid for her services by the Swiss Embassy. In 1982, Maria was presented with the bronze cross of the order of St Augustine of Canterbury by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, for 60 years of continuous service to the Church of the Resurrection. The civil authorities forced her to retire at the age of 78 in 1983, though close contact was maintained until her death, at the age of 86 in 1991.
After the war, the Stalinist influence became very strong, King Michael was forced to abdicate, and Romania became a communist state. Thus ended a long and fruitful relationship between the Anglican Church and the Romanian Head of State. The years which followed were years of great turbulence, and the Church maintained its ministry here only with the greatest difficulty. Services were taken by priests visiting from elsewhere on a monthly basis. The Reverend W.M. Masters, Anglican Chaplain in Vienna, paid frequent visits to celebrate Holy Communion, to baptise, and to marry members of the British and American Legations. The Archdeacon of Malta, the Venerable F.G. Bailey visited the church in January 1955, celebrated Holy Communion (seven communicants), preached at Matins (fifty people present), and discussed with the British Minister the need for various repairs to be done to the church. These were carried out in time for his next visit in December of the same year. In 1958, the General Secretary of the Communist Party, Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, secured the removal of Soviet troops from Romanian soil, and relations between the Romanians and the countries of Western Europe began to be slightly easier. The same Archdeacon visited in 1960, celebrating Holy Communion on Whitsunday, when there were 14 communicants. The service of Matins at I I a.m. was attended by 5 4 people, and the Archdeacon noted that there were many Romanians at the back of the church.
In October 1960, the Bishop of Gibraltar, The Rt Reverend Stanley Eley paying his first visit to the Church of the Resurrection, noted:
It was a great delight to see a church so obviously loved and cared for, and a great debt of gratitude is owed to the Lay Reader, Mr Wilton.
Visits by the Archdeacon of Malta continued until 1962, and thereafter others came to preside at the main feasts of Christmas and Easter. In 1965, two things occurred which would be of great significance for the future of Christian life in Romania. One was the visit of Archbishop Michael Ramsey to the Patriarch Justinian; another was the death of Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, and the subsequent rise to power of Nicolae Ceausescu as General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PERMANENT CHAPLAINCY
On 6th November 1965, a minute was passed at the meeting of the British Embassy Church Committee that 'there might be the possibility of finding an Anglican student priest who might be interested in studying Theology in Bucharest, whose services might be of use to the Anglican Church of the Resurrection'. The idea for this had apparently come from the appointment of the Reverend Peter Mason as a World Council of Churches student, based in Belgrade, from where he also took services in Zagreb, Bucharest, and Sofia. The stance which the Romanian Government under Ceausescu was taking, already distancing itself from the Soviet authorities, showed hopeful signs that closer relations between Romania and the countries of the west might be possible. The aim of the Church Committee was clearly to find a priest to serve the community, though it was apparent that there was no possibility at that time that the community could provide financial support for a resident chaplain themselves.
And so, early in 1966, the Reverend Michael Moore arrived under the auspices of the Church of England Council for Foreign Relations, and as the Archbishop of Canterbury's first Apokrisarios to the Patriarchs of Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia. He worked under the licence of the Bishop of Gibraltar as Anglican priest resident in Bucharest. He also had the responsibility of paying regular visits to the British Embassy communities in Belgrade, Sofia, Zagreb, and Trieste, these travelling expenses being met by the Foreign Office for four visits a year to each Embassy. The British Ambassador during the Chaplaincy of Derek Cordell, Sir John Chadwick, was licensed as a lay reader, and he continued to take services in the absences of the Chaplain.
At this time the emphasis on the role of Anglican Chaplain was largely focussed on ecumenical studies and discussions. The first chaplains also did not stay for much longer than a year, though no time limit had been set on 8 their contracts. Fr. Moore was followed in 1967 by the Reverend Dr David Hope, and then the Reverend Derek Cordell was appointed on 22 March 1969. In October 1969, the Bishop of Gibraltar visited Bucharest, and it is recorded that 'discussions were held concerning the establishment of a proper chaplaincy' in Bucharest. In 1970, it was decided that the needs were for a priest who would be able to offer full-time pastoral care for the congregation here. Thus, the Reverend Derek Cordell was both the last priest student, and the first full-time Anglican Chaplain of the Church of the Resurrection, Bucharest.
He was also the Archbishop of Canterbury's Apokrisarios to the Patriarchs of the Romanian, Bulgarian, and Serbian Orthodox Churches. In 1970, it was proposed that more permanent accommodation for the Chaplain be found, and the church vestry was eventually adapted into living accommodation, though it was realised that this would hardly be suitable for a long-term appointment. There was also a need for extensive repairs to the church roof. Only half a dozen families supported the church at this time, and there was even a suggestion that the building might be better used as premises for the British Council as a library/conference hall. The issue of ownership was raised, but the Bishop of Gibraltar with remarkable foresight refused to allow the church to be used for any purpose other than as a place of worship, and thus prevented the church from being deconsecrated and given over to secular use. This secured the Church of the Resurrection in Bucharest a place in the history books as the only Anglican Church building which maintained a presence in Eastern Europe throughout the post-war years of communism in the Eastern bloc. From the mid seventies when Anglo-Romanian relations were at their closest (President Ceausescu made his state visit to Great Britain in 1978, at the invitation of the British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson) the chaplaincy went from strength to strength, with the result that in 1980 the chaplaincy was divided into two, with a new chaplain being appointed in Belgrade, with responsibility also for Zagreb. The chaplain in Bucharest retained responsibility for the small British community in Sofia.
However, the 1980s saw an increasing disillusionment in the west with the regime of Nicolae Ceausescu, and internally there was a great deal of tension which made life in Romania very difficult for western residents and tourists, as well as for Romanian nationals. The diplomatic and business communities living here at the time experienced severe restrictions on their movements, and privacy was a very rare commodity.
It was probably no coincidence that more and more people from the expatriate community who found themselves in Bucharest during these difficult years depended on the Church of the Resurrection as a source of strength and fellowship. There was also a small but significant number of Romanians who attended the Church during these years at considerable personal risk. Robert Braun9 9 was interviewed by the Daily Telegraph in 1983, in which he stated that there was:
no harrassment from the authorities other than a security van which occasionally positions itself outside the doors on Sundays to photograph the worshippers.
Writing at a time when any comments unfavourable to the regime would have threatened his own security, as well as that of his own flock, he was wise to be circumspect, but he was unable to disguise the painful facts which this sinister statement concealed; namely that any Romanian worshipping here risked losing any hope of promotion if they already had a job - or even losing their jobs, their homes - or worse, suffering detention or possible torture. The chaplaincy continued nevertheless, though the difficulty of the situation and the poor accommodation (Chaplains still lived in the former church vestry) made it difficult to find clergymen willing to serve here. After the Reverend Ian Sherwood left early in 1989 to be Anglican Chaplain in Istanbul, there was an interregnum of over a year, when services were taken by lay-folk from the diplomatic community, until Douglas Brown SSM arrived in April 1990.
This interregnum had witnessed the most crucial change in Romania's history when, in the winter of 1989, Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena were overthrown and summarily executed. The savage revolution which took place over the Christmas period in Bucharest saw a tragic loss of life among the students of the University of Bucharest and caused the deaths of many innocent men and women, from the very old to the very young, who were demonstrating in favour of democracy in the days of turmoil which immediately followed the downfall of the former dictator and his wife.
It had been planned that the Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Europe, Bishop Edward Holland, would preside at the Christmas services in Bucharest in December 1989. Events on the streets, with tanks everywhere, anti-riot police throwing tear-gas, and snipers indiscriminately firing from roof-tops at passersby, made it impossible for him to preside at any services in the church over Christmas 1989. Even the Residence of the British Ambassador, close to the Television Studios had been caught in cross-fire, and severely damaged, and the Ambassador's family had hidden in the cellar as Securitate snipers occupied their home to shoot at pro-democracy demonstrators. The Ambassador's curtains still contain the bullet holes from these tense days when bullets were flying all around their home! 27 people had attended Morning Prayer on December 17th, then the next entry is that 18 people attended Morning Prayer on January 7th. The register nevertheless records that three people turned up at the church on Christmas Day at the advertised time, at serious risk to life and limb for the Christmas service. I gather that they were rather shocked to find the church locked!
Douglas Brown SSM arrived as Chaplain in April 1990 and witnessed much of the reconstruction of Bucharest in the aftermath of the Revolution. Most notable of all of his incumbency were the excellent relations which began to develop between the Church of the Resurrection and the local Orthodox parish of the Icoane, and its parish priest, Father loan Popescu. Much work had been done between the Anglican Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church on an academic level, with letters of greetings being passed from successive Archbishops to successive Patriarchs. This period saw the beginning of a relationship between the worshippers of two congregations, meeting for fellowship, and working together to relieve the poverty and the need that was visible all around. And above all, the congregations worshipped together and began to learn about each other's way of life, and traditions of worship. It was also in Douglas Brown's incumbency that plans were formulated to build a Church House.
This house would provide accommodation for the Anglican Chaplain, and would also contain rooms for use as a Counselling Centre, and a Parish Room, which could be used by both the Anglican Church and the English-speaking community. These excellent plans have not yet turned into a reality, as there is not sufficient funding to enable the building work to go ahead.
ANGLICAN - ROMANIAN ORTHODOX RELATIONS
Following the problems which had arisen in 1920, with the Romanian Evangelical congregation using Anglican Church property, the Archbishop of Canterbury was asked to intervene in the arising difficulties. This, however, led to a delegation of English bishops and theologians coming to Bucharest in June 1935 to hold talks with Romanian Church leaders. They ended their deliberations by stating that 'a solid basis had been prepared whereby full dogmatic agreement may be affirmed between the Anglican Church and Orthodox communions'. The outbreak of war prevented these discussions from advancing far beyond this basis, but the Romanian Orthodox Church was the only Orthodox Church which fully recognised the orders of Anglican clergy. This has meant that many chaplains since this time have had the privilege of sharing in the Orthodox liturgies celebrated in the churches and cathedrals of the Romanian Orthodox Church. This has often taken the form of robing or joining with the assembled clergy and, more recently, they have read the Gospel, and even given an address as part of the Liturgy.
In 1965, Michael Ramsey, the Archbishop of Canterbury paid a historic visit to Patriarch Justinian, who paid a return visit to England the following year. On the occasion of the Patriarch's visit to the Church of Resurrection, he gave an Icon of Christ the Divine Wisdom to the Bishop of Gibraltar, who presented the Icon to the Church of the Resurrection, where it can be still seen today. This exchange of visits reopened the excellent relationship which had existed between the Anglican Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church since 1935.
The result of the 1965 discussions was to conclude that more should be done to increase mutual understanding and contact'. There have been many occasions when Anglican chaplains have participated in Orthodox ceremonies, and there have likewise been many occasions when Orthodox Patriarchs and hierarchs have taken part in Anglican services in the Church of the Resurrection. On 9 June, 1935 the first Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Miron I attended an Anglican service of Holy Communion, and gave his blessing at the end of the service. In October 1982, Archbishop Robert Runcie made the second visit of an Archbishop of Canterbury to the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and the Patriarch Justin was present at an Anglican service on this occasion, as was the Bishop who was to be his successor, Metropolitan Teoctist of Moldavia.
The establishment of a resident chaplain in Bucharest led to a great deal of work being done in Bucharest to foster links with the Romanian Orthodox Church. As Anglican students came to Bucharest to study Orthodox Theology, so also Romanian students have visited England to study there.
Many contacts continue to be established through the mutual trust and spirit of friendship which has been established over the years. One recent sign of this was the twinning of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Alba Iulia with Wearside Churches Together - an ecumenical group of churches based in the city of Sunderland. The welcome which the Bishop and his clergy gave to those of us who were there was staggering, and the friendship and trust which quickly developed is the greatest sign of hope for the future of the relationship between the sister churches.
There are, of course, problems which lie ahead in our formal discussions. Discussions within the Anglican communion concerning the ordination of women to the priesthood are a source of great concern to the Orthodox Churches worldwide. But these problems are not insuperable, and the spirit of friendship and co-operation which has developed over the sixty years of this close relationship between the two churches at every level will surely continue as we work together to understand the way in which the Spirit of God will lead us to accomplish his work as part of our respective and complementary ministries in the years to come in Romania.
The Revd. Steven Hughes, who was licensed to the chaplaincy full time on June 28th, 1998, had originally come to Romania with his wife Mandy to set up a health project in Sibiu (the importance and success of this work was recognised in 2001 when both Steve and Mandy received MBEs). Invited to assist on an occasional basis at the Church of the Resurrection, Steve preached here for the first time in 1992, receiving 'Permission to Officiate' from the Diocese in 1993. In 1996 he then formally became 'Assistant Chaplain'.
The most publicly significant service conducted by the Reverend Hughes during his time as Chaplain was the special Memorial Service held on September 13th 2001 following the terrorist attacks on the USA two days previously. Sharing in this service, alongside many members of the US and British Diplomatic Missions, were both the President and the Prime Minister of Romanian (Ion Iliescu and Adrian Nastase), and the security measures and level of publicity surrounding this event were intense.
On a different note, on July 27th 2002, during the interregnum after he had left the chaplaincy in January, the Reverend Hughes returned to Bucharest to perform the religious marriage service for Ambassador Richard Ralph and Miss Jemma Marlor - a "society" event that once again brought the Prime Minister and a 'gramada' of ambassadorial and ministerial dignitaries to the Anglican church.
Meanwhile the continuing - indeed in many respects worsening - economic and social problems of the country were all too apparent. The congregation of the church included not only Western 'technocrats' and members of the business community, it also included many people connected with charity and development work, from refugee and street children's projects to educational, legal, and commercial infrastructure agencies. Approximately one third of the congregation was Romanian. Having recovered a position of basic stability, the church was set to reassess its vocation and mission within the context in which it had evolved its unique identity.
This is the path on which it is now embarked. And we commend to God the future of the chaplaincy, trusting that the example of those who have worshiped and served here over the years will be an inspiration to others to join the fellowship - a fellowship that is spread across the globe, yet which has at its heart the red brick church "pe colt Strada Xenopol si Strada Pictor Verona" in Bucharest.
NOTES
1. The Romanian calendar changed at the turn of the century, with an omission of twelve days! Hence certain dates are given in both old style and new style calendars.
2. Presumably R. Stewart Patterson, Chaplain 1896-1900.
3. G.F.S - anacronym for "The Girls Friendly Society" an Anglican society, still active, providing education and fellowship among girls and young ladies.
4. Though Roman Catholic by birth, both Carol I and Crown Prince Ferdinand espoused the Romanian Orthodox Church, as did Crown Princess Marie, on her marriage to the Crown Prince.
5. The Royal Family of Romania retain the French spelling of Romania ("Roumania") in their titles.
6. H.I.H. The Princess Ileana founded the Orthodox monastery of the Transfiguration in Elide City, Pennsylvania, where she was known as Mother Alexandra.
7. 'The son was Jack Adeney, who was later himself ordained, and to whom I am indebted for much of this current information.
8. At the time of writing, Dr Hope is Bishop of London.
9. Chaplain 1982-84.
APPENDIX 2
From the Registers of the Church of the Resurrection, Bucharest
1869 July 22 Burial of Katherine Hoabowsky (First entry)
1899 June 7 Marriage of Emil Urban and Adelaide Dunton - members of the household of HRH The Crown Prince at the Cotroceni Palace, Bucharest.
1905 December 19 Collection of persecuted Jews in Russia.
1906 February 15 Burial of Emma Adeney, the Chaplain's wife.
1907 October 6 Visit of the Bishop of Gibraltar for Confirmation and Annual Meeting. 90 people present.
1916 October 22 Special prayers for HRH The Prince Mircea (who died on November 2 of typhoid fever, aged 3).
1918 November 10 British prisoners of war attend services with sentry. In the afternoon, the Germans begin a hurried evacuation of Bucharest.
1918 Christmas Day Reopened church room in Str Negustori 6.
1919 February 4 Memorial service for Prince John of England.
1919 April 18 Offertory for Transylvanian orphans raised 51 lei.
1920 April 4 (Easter Day) First service in the Church of the Resurrection.
1922 November 5 Dedication of the Church of the Resurrection by the Bishop of Gibraltar.
1926 October 23 Evensong for the family of Queen Sophia of Greece.
Christmas Day Attended by HM Queen Marie, HRH Prince Nicholas, and HRH Princess Ileana.
1928 October 15 Private visit to the church by HM King Michael.
October 28 Holy Communion attended by Queen Sophia of Greece and Princess Katherine.
1929 February 3 22 degrees below zero - the heating system failed. Only two communicants.
July 7 Service of Thanksgiving for the King's recovery: HRH Prince Nicolae and the court present.
1931 November 21 HM Queen Sophia of Greece undergoing an operation: four royal communicants.
1934 April I (Easter Day) Dedication of painting by Mr Coverly-Price (now on western wall) Queen Marie present.
1935 May 12 Thanksgiving service: Silver Jubilee of HM King George V of England.
June 2 Visit of the delegates of the Archbishop of Canterbury to meet with representatives of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
June 9 The Patriarch Miron Christea present at an Anglican Eucharist: he gave the Blessing at the end of the service.
November 24 HM Queen Marie and HM Queen Marie of Yugoslavia attend.
November 28 American Thanksgiving Day - Proclamation read by American Minister - Church packed. (This became an annual event for some years).
1935 December 28 Eucharist at Royal Palace - 4 communicants.
1936 January 28 Memorial service for HM King George V of England. HM Queen Marie, HM Queen Elizabeth of Greece attend, also the Prime Minister, Corps Diplomatique, Government and civil authorities, Army, Navy, Air Force.
May 31 Members of Liverpool Football club attend service.
1937 May 12 Special service - Coronation of HM King George VI of England.
1938 July 18 Death of HM Queen Marie of Romania.
1939 March 14 Solemn Requiem Eucharist for the late Patriarch Miron I; the chaplain walked in the funeral procession, representing the Archbishop of Canterbury.
October I Special service for time of war.
1940 Christmas Day 33 communicants. Church closed for duration of war.
1944 Christmas Day Church reopened, assisted by Royal Naval and American military staff.
1945 April 9 Memorial service for Princess Bibescu (Lady Elizabeth Asquith).
April 14 Memorial service for President Roosevelt.
1952 February 15 Memorial service for HM King George VI of England.
1965 June 6 Visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Patriarch.
1966 February 6 Permanent chaplaincy revived with arrival of the Reverend Michael Moore.
1967 May 14 Sir John Chadwick, HBM Ambassador, licensed as Lay Reader.
1969 March 31 Memorial service for President Eisenhower.
1973 June 3 Bishop Robert Runcie of St Albans (later Archbishop of Canterbury) visits for Jubilee of Patriarch Justinian.
1974 September 29 Visit of Bishop Mervyn Stockwood.
1977 March 26 Solemn Requiem Eucharist for the late Patriarch Justinian.
April 11 Wedding of Juliet Seconde, daughter of HBM Ambassador.
June 5 Jubilee service for HM Queen Elizabeth II of England - attended by Commonwealth Ambassadors.
1979 March 11 Dedication of Aumbry (for the Reserved Sacrament).
September 9 Memorial service for The Lord Mountbatten of Burma.
September 16 Visit of the Bishop of London.
1990 July 18 Chaplain took up residence in Church flat.
1981 March Ist, Anglican Alternative Service Book used for the first time.
1982 January 31 Robert Braun arrived as Chaplain.
Under Communism the Church was generally obliged to confine itself to liturgical activities. It is striking to see the children in this photo, right, of Chaplain Robert Braun (top, right) with the Orthodox Metropolitan Nestor of Oltenia (top left) and his assistant (top center) at Biserica Militari, 1983.
October 11 - 15 Visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury (Robert Runcie).
October 12 Eucharist celebrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Patriarch and other hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church present.
October 31 Visit of the Italian Roman Catholic Church for Eucharist. The Italian Ambassador also present.
December I Prayers for the repose of the soul of HM Queen Helen of Romania.
1983 August 7 Dedication of processional cross, gift of Col. and Mrs Holroyd, US Embassy.
1984 April I Visit of the Bishop of Gibraltar and Confirmation.
November 25 Rededication of renovated organ.
1986 May 6 Ian Sherwood arrives as Chaplain.
1988 July 17 50th anniversary of the death of Queen Marie.
1989 December Carol service and all Christmas services cancelled, due to the Romanian Revolution. Many left the country for safety until stability was restored. The Residence of the British Ambassador was caught in crossfire, and gutted. The Church escaped unscarred.
1990 April 8 Douglas Brown SSM arrives as Chaplain.
1992 February 23 Chris Newlands arrives as Chaplain.
March 29 Holy Communion filmed by Romanian Television, and broadcast nationally, including extensive interview with the Chaplain.
September 20 Visit of the Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe and the Institution of the Chaplain.
Launch of the Church of the Resurrection's 70th Anniversary Development Appeal.
1993 September 6-IO Visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Dr George Leonard Carey, DD, PhD. to Romania.
1996 E. J. Poole arrived as Chaplain.
1998 June 28 S. P Hughes (link, bio.) arrived as Chaplain.
2001 September 13 Special Service for the WTC victims, attended by the Romanian President, Ion Iliescu P.M. Nastase, the U.K. Ambassador, and the U.S. Ambassador
2002 Memorial service for HRH Queen Mother
2002 August 4 James Ramsay (link, bio.) arrived as Chaplain.
Anyone with precise historical information, or additional time line events to present, please e-mail data (using e-mail body, .RTF or .TXT format only, please) to danasaur@schloss.ro