Remembering the lady with the lamp

In a month’s time the parish church in the Hampshire village of Wellow is planning a special service to commemorate the life of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing who is famed as ‘the lady with the lamp.’
This memorial in the grounds of the historic church marks her family burial place, not far from the family home at Embley Park.  She is acknowledged as a celebrated  social reformer of her time and established her reputation in Victorian times tending wounded soldiers during the Crimean War and became known as the ‘Lady with the Lamp’ doing nightly rounds of injured soldiers in her care.
She died in 1910 and is buried close to the village church of St Margaret’s which itself has a long and proud history.
Last year the church celebrated its own anniversary — 800 years. It was founded in the year 1215, the time of the signing of Magna Carta. At that time it was founded as a Catholic Church, and was to swing to Protestant leanings some 300 years later, in the 1500s.
The church itself has rich historic and architectural  interest, yet these days, is primarily known to visitors as the resting place for Florence Nightingale.

The Commemoration in May will focus on a service at the church followed by a ticket only buffet lunch for parishioners in the village hall.