University Holds Ceremony Honoring Body Donors

Annual service remembers those who gifted their bodies to medical science education.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The University of Manchester held a service of thanksgiving at the Whitworth Hall to honor individuals who donated their bodies to medical science in 2024 and 2025. The ceremony included a candle lighting for each donor, readings from religious and secular leaders, and remarks from university officials expressing gratitude for the donors' selfless gifts that have helped advance medical education and research.

Why it matters

Body donations are crucial for training the next generation of healthcare professionals and advancing medical knowledge, but can be an underappreciated contribution. This annual ceremony helps recognize the important role these donors play in supporting the university's educational and research missions.

The details

The service was multi-denominational to welcome donors of all faiths and backgrounds. It featured remarks from the Director of Undergraduate Medical and Dental Education, the School Lead for Anatomy, a Humanist minister, a Methodist minister, and a Roman Catholic priest. The Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, the King's representative, also attended the ceremony.

  • The ceremony took place on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 1:15pm.
  • The donors gave their bodies to medical science in 2024 and 2025.

The players

Professor Margaret Kingston

Director of Undergraduate Medical and Dental Education at the University of Manchester.

Dr. Bipasha Choudhury

School Lead for Anatomy at the University of Manchester.

Paul Costello

Humanist minister who provided readings at the ceremony.

Richard Mottershead

Methodist minister who provided readings at the ceremony.

Father Dushan

Roman Catholic priest who provided readings at the ceremony.

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What they’re saying

“As a University, we would like to express our deepest thanks to those who gave their bodies to science: your final act became a beginning for countless others.”

— Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility at the University of Manchester

“We are sincerely grateful to the donors for the gift they have bestowed upon our students and staff, helping us learn human anatomy in a profoundly moving way.”

— Dr. Bipasha Choudhury, School Lead for Anatomy at the University of Manchester

“We were moved by the serious gratitude expressed in the words of the service. The candle and name card represent the fact that the last resting place of John's body is not under a gravestone or in a casket but it the brain and memory of each student for whom this was his final teaching role.”

— Wife of a donor

What’s next

The University of Manchester plans to hold a similar ceremony honoring body donors in March 2027.

The takeaway

Body donations are a selfless act that play a vital role in advancing medical education and research. This annual ceremony helps recognize the important contributions of these donors and the impact their gifts have on future healthcare professionals and the broader advancement of science.