Romania’s royal couple and the British Ambassador to Romania led a celebration to mark 150 years since Queen Marie’s birth held at her ‘beautiful, little’ Anglican church in the heart of Bucharest.
Princess Margareta, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, is the great-granddaughter of the British-born queen who has become a symbol in post-communist Romania. The late queen is appreciated for her love for her adopted country, her dedication in recapturing territory after World War I, and hands-on medical care to wounded soldiers during the war, as well as her style and striking looks.
About 80 people including Margareta and the Prince Consort, Prince Radu and British Ambassador to Romania, Giles Portman, attended a concert and celebration of her birth on Monday evening in the church, which was completed in 1914 and held its first service at Easter 1920.
“It was important to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Queen Marie in a church which she was instrumental in founding and which meant so much to her. It was especially meaningful to celebrate the way Marie binds together the British and Romanian Royal Families and the wider communities in the presence of Her Majesty and other representatives of political and social organizations,” Father Nevsky Everett told Universul.net.
Starting in the late 1900s, Marie organized fundraising to build the red-bricked church, a striking landmark in the center of the city which was only closed twice_ first during the German occupation of the city in World War II and then during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Church of the Resurrection’s vicar, Father Nevsky, led the celebration which included a concert by pianist Adina Cocargeanu and soprano, Andreea Novac. They performed songs from a cycle by George Enescu, followed by a sarabande for solo piano. The second part was dedicated to the beginning of her life in the southeast British county of Kent with songs from songs from Henry Purcell and George Frideric Handel.
Film producer Dan Drăghicescu lent portraits from his photographic exhibition, which have already traveled around Romania to mark the 150th anniversary of Marie’s birth. Two portraits by Cristina Tuță and Iulia Trică – were premiered for the Monday evening event.
Here is a full transcript of the speech made available to Universul.net by Rev. Dr. Nevsky Everett.
‘It is a great joy to welcome you to the Anglican Church to commemorate 150 years since the birth of Queen Marie of Romania. The history and legacy of this church is intimately connected with Romania’s English Queen.
There has been an Anglican presence in Bucharest since at least 1848, when an Anglican-run school was established. The English community met for worship in the school hall, and when Marie arrived in Romania following her marriage in 1893, she was often present.
One English woman wrote in a letter home,
‘[The] English service [is] reverent and quiet. The chaplain is a kindly old man, rather deaf. His sermons are dull… The Crown princess generally comes… 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… the English community is small and poor. It consists chiefly of English governesses!’
The plot of land we are on was given to the British Government in 1900 for the construction of a church. Fundraising was difficult, but through the influence and the direct support of the Crown Princess, work started on this building in 1911. The First World War interrupted the project, but worship began here on Easter Day, 1920.
Characteristically, the Queen spoke her mind! Whilst she was fond of the Revd Claude Hinscliffe and his successor, Revd Charles Stewart, she was less keen on Revd Hugh Farrie, who was chaplain from 1931. In her diary entry for 11th November 1932, Queen Marie wrote,
‘I went early to the English church for Armistice Day, a rather boring service. The pastor is clean-shaven, tall, pleasant in appearance, but very slow… I am ashamed to say, it has an annoying effect on me.’
But nevertheless, it was a place that she loved, and she often refers to it as ‘a beautiful little church.’
The experience of worship here at the Church of the Resurrection also had a lasting impact on Princess Ileana. As late as 1988, the chaplain received a Christmas letter sent from the United States. She wrote,
‘I hope that you will not forget me… 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 you in my simple prayer. [signed] Mother Alexandra.’
We are very proud of our connection with Queen Marie, and we receive many visitors who want to know more. This church is part of her legacy, a gift to Bucharest – not just to the Anglican community, but to all of us. I hope that you can find here a connection with the past, but also a warm welcome. Today, our community is probably larger and certainly more international than it was in Queen Marie’s time. But the maintenance of this historical monument and of the worshiping life falls entirely to our community, our friends and supporters. We receive no external funding from the Church of England or from the State. So if you would like to help us keep Queen Marie’s legacy alive here, we would be hugely grateful for any donation you might be able to give as you leave the church this evening.
I’d like to thank His Excellency the British Ambassador and his team for their support and contribution this evening; and also Mr Dan Drăghicescu for the portraits from his photographic exhibition, which in this anniversary year has traveled all around Romania. We are also pleased to exhibit two portraits this evening, works by Cristina Tuță and Iulia Trică – both exhibited in Bucharest for the first time this evening.
Our programme tonight brings together Romanian and British music. We begin with some songs from a cycle by George Enescu, followed by a sarabande for solo piano. Enescu was well-known to Queen Marie. On his 50th birthday, she wrote an appreciation, remembering him as a child prodigy in the salon of Queen Elisabeta and remarking on the joy and beauty he brought to people’s lives. It is fitting, then, that we celebrate Queen Marie’s life tonight with Enescu’s music.
The second part of our programme takes us from Romania back to Queen Marie’s first home, with songs from Henry Purcell and George Frideric Handel.
Our performers tonight are Adina Cocargeanu on the piano and the organ, and the soprano Andreea Novac – to whom we give a warm welcome.’
ENDS
King Charles attends 150th anniversary exhibit of Queen Marie’s birth
