St Mary's Cathedral, Palmerston Place.

As I said in the previous item , I went to visit St Mary's cathedral, Palmerston Place, completed in 1879, and adjacent to the 17th Century old Coates House in the grounds, which was formerly the home of Barbara and Mary Walker who left their estate in trust for the endowment of the Cathedral

It is really beautiful inside, and the new Millennium Window, a modern stained glass feature in the Resurrection Chapel casts lovely colours throughout.

On one wall there is a brass plaque commemorating Captain James Dundas, V.C. - 7th Company Killed by a mine at Kabul 23rd December 1879. Eldest son of George Dundas (Judge, Court of Session, Scotland) and Elizabeth Mackenzie. He was born 12th September 1842 and educated at Edinburgh Academy and Addiscombe. In 1860 he was appointed Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers (Bengal). In 1865 he served in the Bhutan expedition and was awarded the Victoria Cross when he and a fellow officer led their troops to storm a blockhouse being held by over two hundred of the enemy. He was with the Field Force to Kabul in 1879 and was killed (with Lieut. Nugent) near Sherpur when setting mines to blow up an enemy fort, when the mine exploded prematurely.

There is a display in situ for the Army Navy Air Force Association and it looks as though the congregation give much needed help to that charity.

Every evening at 5.30 p.m. there is an evensong with the Choir and the resounding organ music - the organist was just getting warmed up while I was there, so that stopped me from dozing off in the earlier peace and quiet.

Well worth a visit.