[MR] 12th C. French Brotherhood Continues Burial Traditions

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Since 1188 members of the Confrérie des Charitables de Saint-Éloi have
assisted at funerals in Béthune, France. Founded during an outbreak of the
plague when local gravediggers could not keep up with the demand, Confrérie
members have served as pallbearers for the rich or poor of any faith in
their town. Today during the virus pandemic, they continue to provide their
traditional service.

Their story was presented in video on the BBC:
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-53029599/coronavirus-france-s-ancient-burial-brotherhood-defies-covid-19

The British newspaper THE GUARDIAN also ran a print feature on the
Confrérie:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/02/the-charitables-french-brotherhood-burying-dead-since-1188

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Lady Sarah Sinclair, Lady of Mallard Lodge  🏰