Margaret Laird RIP

Margaret Laird was once described as ‘the first lady of the C of E (after the Queen)’. She served the Church with great ability and dedication as Third Estates Commissioner alongside Sir Michael Colman (First Estates) and Sir Michael Alison (Second Estates) and her many friends will be sad to hear that she died last week. She was 82. Margaret grew up in Truro and went to a high school founded by Bishop Benson. She was a convinced Anglo-Catholic who went to St Paul’s, Truro. After studying history at Westfield College, London, she read theology at King’s. Eric Abbott became her spiritual director for 30 years and she met her husband John at the college. He went on to ordination and for a time taught at Bishops College, Cheshunt. At the Church Commissioners Margaret chaired the Pastoral Committee, Redundant Churches and Bishoprics committee as well as serving on a number of other committees. She lived at Lambeth Palace on weekdays, went to services every morning in the chapel and soon formed a warm, friendly relationship with George and Eileen Carey despite differences of opinion (Margaret opposed the ordination of women). She took on many other responsibilities, including serving as a trustee of Lambeth Palace Library and becoming the first woman governor of Pusey House, Oxford. It is hoped that a memorial service will be held at Pusey House. The funeral will take place at Canterbury where one of Margaret’s sons serves as university chaplain.