Service of Thanksgiving for body donors

18 Feb 2016

Staff welcome to pay tribute to selfless and public-spirited people of Manchester

Each year the University accepts a number of human bodies, which are used to teach anatomy to medical, dental and science students.

The bodies the University receives are those of people from the Manchester area who have indicated prior to their death that they wish to donate their bodies for this purpose.

This selfless and public-spirited action benefits the education of around 2,000 students each year. 

The Service of Thanksgiving has become an annual event in memory of those who have bequeathed their bodies to the University in the previous academic year. The Service is unrelated to the final committal or funeral service of any individual, but rather, is intended as an opportunity for the public-spirited actions of the donors to be acknowledged.

The Service this year will be held on Wednesday, 2 March, at 1pm for 1.15pm, in the University’s Whitworth Hall.

The Service last year was attended by approximately 400 people. These included many relatives and friends of the deceased, current students, academic, administrative, postgraduate and support staff, senior University representatives, senior civic officials and clergy. The feedback received showed that the Service was greatly appreciated by the families of the donors.

University staff are welcome to attend this year's Service, as a gesture of recognition of the selfless actions of the donors and the benefit that the University and our students derive from these bequeathals.

This will be a non-denominational Service; you do not need to be of any particular religious affiliation or hold any religious belief to attend the Service.

Following the Service, light refreshments will be served and everyone will be made most welcome.