Scottish Parliament Honors Missionary Jane Haining for Wartime Sacrifice

Members of the Scottish Parliament have formally recognized the life and sacrifice of Jane Haining, a Church of Scotland missionary who died at the Auschwitz concentration camp. Haining served as the matron of the Scottish Mission School in Budapest, where she cared for both Jewish and Christian girls. Despite being advised to return home at the outbreak of World War II, she chose to remain with her students, famously stating that they needed her more during times of darkness.

Following the German occupation of Hungary in 1944, Haining was arrested and deported to Auschwitz, where she died at age 47. A cross-party motion in the Scottish Parliament recently honored her legacy, describing her actions as an enduring example of moral courage and selfless service. The motion also noted the recent addition of her name to a memorial wall at the Auschwitz-Birkenau site. Lawmakers expressed hope that Haining’s story would encourage the public to confront contemporary instances of antisemitism, prejudice, and persecution.