Nurses, midwives, health and care leaders, and members of the wider community will gather at Bristol Cathedral on Monday 11 May 2026 for the first Nursing and Midwifery Service of Thanksgiving, a special event marking International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses’ Day.
Held under the theme A Celebration of Brilliance, the service will offer a moment of reflection, gratitude and recognition for the extraordinary contribution of nurses and midwives across Bristol and the wider region. It will honour the skill, compassion, courage and humanity that define these professions, and the vital role they play in the lives of individuals, families and communities every day.
The service will bring together colleagues from across health and care, alongside partners, civic leaders and members of the public, in a shared act of thanksgiving for professions that accompany people through some of the most significant moments of life at birth, in illness and recovery, in times of uncertainty and loss, and at the end of life.
As part of the service, two candles will be lit. The first is in celebration of all nurses and midwives whose hands, voices and presence transform lives, presented by Richard Isaiah, Clinical Community Nursing Team Leader at Sirona, who continuously demonstrates his dedication to providing care and support to both his patients and his fellow nursing colleagues.
The second candle is in remembrance of colleagues who are no longer with us and will be presented by Eavie Hockin-Tanner, granddaughter of May Tanner, who was the first black ward sister at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and sadly passed away earlier this year. Together, these will stand as symbols of gratitude, memory and the enduring light of those who have shaped and strengthened these professions across generations.
The event will also feature a specially commissioned poem by Sukina Noor, Bristol City Poet, whose work has become known for its attentiveness to the people, histories and spirit of the city. Her contribution will help root the service not only in profession, but in place reflecting Bristol’s communities and the profound connection between care, service and belonging.
Mary Lewis, Chief Nurse and Allied Health Officer at Sirona care & health, said: “We are delighted Bristol Cathedral is supporting us to bring together nurses and midwives from all branches of nursing – mental health, social care, primary care, community, learning disabilities, hospices, children’s services, and hospitals – for this special event.
“We recognise and give thanks for the huge contribution nurses and midwives make to the lives of people across our communities. We want to celebrate the compassion and dedication they show each and every day to the people we have the privilege of caring for.”
The Nursing and Midwifery Service of Thanksgiving will take place at 5pm to 6pm, followed by refreshments on Monday 11 May 2026 at Bristol Cathedral.
