Dunscore Goes to Budapest – Again

 70 years ago this month, Jane Haining set out from Dunscore to take up her post as matron at the Jewish Girls` Home in Budapest. She could not know then that her journey would ultimately end in Auschwitz, where she died in 1944.

On my first visit to Hungary in April this year, I thought often of how Jane had travelled over land and sea from a small Scottish village to do God`s work far from friends and family. Trying to learn a few words of Hungarian before leaving home, I was full of admiration for the clever woman (once Modern Dux at Dumfries Academy) who became fluent in the language.

Adrian Shaw (Climate Change Officer of the Church of Scotland) and I were on a different kind of mission – to encourage care for God`s creation in a country which was keen to start up an Eco-Congregation movement of its own. We had been invited by the Reformed Church of Hungary (RCH) who had organised a national conference (Okogyulekezet) at which we were to speak.

Arriving 2 days before the conference, we had time for several meetings (and meals) with members of the newly-formed Eco-Congregational Council. One of these was Barbara Botos, Head of National Climate Change Policy, who had recently represented Hungary at Durban. Over lunch (pancakes with spinach and sour cream) we learned how Hungary relies on Russian gas and oil for most of its energy needs, supplemented by nuclear power. As in Scotland, carbon emissions have fallen due to the loss of heavy industry. Emissions are lower per capita than ours, but they have less opportunity for developing renewable energy technologies since Hungary is landlocked, quite flat and not very windy. We did visit an impressive Eco project, however, at the Bethesda Childrens` Hospital where low energy heating (and cooling – it was 30 degrees C outside) was provided by a mix of solar power and air to water heat pumps.

The conference, organised by Tamas Kodacsy, who is a pastor and the Project Leader, went very well. In the morning there were presentations on the theological and scientific perspectives on climate change. Fortunately Adrian and I were provided with an excellent translator called Dora, who sat between us and whispered an English version of everything that was said. She was glad of a break for lunch (soup followed by chicken, mounds of mashed potatoes, dill pickles and paprika sauce – we never went hungry in Hungary!).

After lunch, Adrian spoke about Eco-Congregations and I gave a presentation about the work we have been doing in Dunscore. We spoke a few sentences at a time and Dora translated, which was fine until she misunderstood the kind of Pub in which we hold our meetings..I had to explain that the Flying Pig was the kind of place where we held knitting bees, not knife fights! In the discussions which followed, there was a lot of enthusiasm for setting up Eco-Congregations and also for twinning between churches in Scotland and Hungary to share ideas about how to care for the environment. Many congregations already celebrate Creationtide in September and October, and they also have a scheme called Egyhaztaji, through which farmers markets are run by local churches.

In between the meetings and visits, Adrian and I were taken on sightseeing trips which included the Parliament, the castle, and the Chain Bridge (built by Scottish engineers).I was also able to spend an evening with Margit Halasz, the teacher from Vorosmaty School who came to Dunscore last August.

One of the highlights for me was Communion on Sunday morning at St Columba`s, the Scots Kirk, where Jane Haining worshipped, and where there are memorials to her from both the Church of Scotland and the local Jewish community. The minister (Rev Aaron Stevens) is coming to Dunscore for our special service on June 3rd.

Throughout our visit, I was impressed by the friendliness and hospitality of everyone we met. I can understand how Jane Haining must have fallen in love with this beautiful city and its people. I am so grateful to have had the chance to go, to spread the message of Eco-Congregation and to further the link between Dunscore and Budapest.

- Alison Boyes