HOLY Cross Hospital in Haslemere, which is celebrating 100 years of care in 2017, held a special service of mass led by the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton in the hospital’s chapel.

The Right Reverend Bishop Richard Moth was joined by former parish priest Father Anthony Lovegrove and Father Chris Benyon, in giving thanks for the dedication of staff and supporters, past and present, and the many people who have been helped and cared for in the last 100 years.

Holy Cross chief executive Christopher Hinton said: “We were honoured to have the bishop as our celebrant at mass, together with our chaplain and Father Lovegrove.

“It was a very fitting start to our centenary year and we were delighted that so many of our friends and supporters could join us for this very special occasion.

“The hospital owes its existence to Blessed Marie Therese Haze who was born in Belgium and who, in 1833, received permission to form a religious congregation devoted to works of charity.

“By the 1860s a community had been set up in England. During the First World War, a safer location was needed for a TB sanatorium that had been opened in Ramsgate, Kent.

“In December 1916, the congregation became the new owner of Shottermill Hall in Haslemere and 33 acres of land. Over 100 years, the hospital has evolved to meet changing needs but the underlying ethos that only the best is good enough for people in need of care has remained.”

At the celebratory mass, the bishop observed that Holy Cross Hospital can “look to the future with confidence knowing that all that lies ahead is built on very firm foundations”.

The service at the end of last month was followed by a celebration lunch where Sister Mary Agnes, former matron and now a trustee with special responsibility for the hospital, gave her sincere thanks to Bishop Richard and described how every single person at the lunch deserved a personal “thank you” for all that they do for the hospital.

She spoke about the building of the hospital’s new education centre and how the hospital plans to go forward by supporting the professional development of future generations of healthcare staff in the care of the severely disabled patient.

As well as the official opening of the new education centre, the hospital has a programme of activities planned for its centenary year, which include a summer concert organised by the Friends and an exhibition at Haslemere Museum.

A souvenir booklet about Holy Cross’s history has been produced and a project to collect people’s memories and photographs of the hospital is underway.