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Motion · S4M-12088 · 16 Jan 2015

Commemorating the Life of Mary Slessor

Lodged by Alison McInnes Standard Motion 38 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament welcomes commemorations to mark the centenary of the death of Mary Slessor, the Christian missionary who saved hundreds of lives and promoted women’s rights in Nigeria during a 39-year period; notes that, on 13 January 2015, a service was held at the Mary Slessor Memorial in Union Terrace Gardens in Aberdeen and a new plaque detailing her life was unveiled at the Steeple Church in Dundee, the cities where she was born and raised respectively; understands that Mary Slessor travelled to Calabar in Nigeria in 1876 at the age of 28 to become a missionary, inspired by the work of Dr David Livingstone; believes that her work included stopping sacrifices and severe punishments, settling disputes between tribes and neighbours, confronting superstitions that caused twins to be abandoned or killed and saving and caring for countless children; understands that she was granted the equivalent of a state funeral in Nigeria on her death on 13 January 1915 and that she is still held in high regard both in that country and by the Nigerian community in Scotland; applauds the work of the Mary Slessor Foundation, which continues to highlight her life and work, and hopes that the latest programme of events that it has organised to celebrate this will help raise awareness of what it considers her extraordinary accomplishments.

Supporters (38)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.