One Woman's Quest To End Leprosy

Uxbridge residents have been treated to a glowing tribute to the ‘little-known’ life of a nurse who travelled across Europe to try to find a cure for leprosy.

Nurse Kate Marsden famed for travelling across Europe in search for a cure for leprosy

(Photo: Courtesy)

British-born Kate Marsden spent much of her time working in New Zealand, Russia, Siberia and Bulgaria after Queen Victoria supported her quest to fight the disease which had ravaged most of Europe.

Now her remains rest at the Hillingdon Cemetery along Kingston Lane in Uxbridge following her death in March 1931 aged 71. A new headstone was put in place two years ago in a ceremony graced by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in London.

But, despite this, the current generation still know little of her amazing exploits, says Fr Nicholas Schofield, the Roman Catholic parish priest of Uxbridge when he spoke to The Hillingdon Herald.

Last month, during a talk organized by the Catholic Church in Uxbridge and attended by 20 members including some from the St. Francis Leprosy Guild, attendees were treated to a presentation titled ‘Journey to Siberia: The Remarkable Story of Kate Marsden’ by Tony Mitchell from the Uxbridge Local History Society.

“Many people thought that it was an impossible journey for a woman to undertake; but Kate was determined,” said Mr. Mitchell at the virtual meeting.

It was in 1889 where Kate’s famous journey to search for a cure for leprosy began.

Although now easily treated, at the time the disease had ravaged most of Europe. Leprosy was once feared as a highly contagious and dangerous ailment which had claimed the lives of thousands of people. “Her compassion and her faith made her want to go to Siberia to find a cure,” said Fr. Nicholas Schofield to The Hillingdon Herald.

Kate Marsden in winter clothing ahead of her journey to Siberia. Notice the map of the route she would use behind her. (Photo: Courtesy)

Kate first encountered the ill-effects of leprosy in Bulgaria after working as part of the Red Cross team during the Russo-Turkish war in 1877. She began her journey to Moscow 12 years later where she had gone to source for funding for her 18,000-kilometre trip to Siberia. Through the help of Queen Victoria who got wind of her work in fighting leprosy, Kate managed to get the audience from The Empress of Russia, Maria Fedoroyna who gave her a letter to issue to anyone along the way to accord her any assistance she may need in her journey.

Having begun her route eastwards just before the start of the winter season, Kate had to make several sojourns along the way including in Viliuisk, Russia where she met 80 lepers. Along the way, sickness and disease plagued her body. Just three months after the start of her journey Kate lost her aide and translator Ada Field who was too sick to continue to with the ambitious quest to get to Sosnovka, Siberia.

Eventually, after five months and nearly a dozen stops, Kate reached her destination. She never ever found a cure for leprosy as the curative herbs she had heard that would treat the disease turned out to be just but a numbing stimulant. But Kate insisted that her journey was not fruitless. She is quoted as having said at the time: “Even though it’s not a cure for leprosy, it does alleviate the suffering.”

Despite proponents of her work as a nurse and missionary praising Kate Marsden for her valiant efforts towards searching for a cure for the disease, news articles written by journalist William Thomas Stead (who eventually died on The Titanic when it sunk) accused her of engaging in a “pleasure trip” around Europe with no results to show for it. Many also doubted that she had undertaken the journey she had claimed.

Bexhill Museum opened in 1914 largely thanks to efforts by Kate Marsen

(Photo: Courtesy)

In 1914, Kate was consciously absent during the opening ceremony of the Bexhill Museum which she helped found and fund. Just a year prior to the opening, the Mayor of Bexhill allegedly contacted the committee of the museum and revealed that Kate had been involved in controversy over funds. The Charity Organisation Society advised that Marsden was "not a fit person to manage charitable funds". She was obliged to resign and the museum still opened in 1914 but without Marsden present.

Kate also helped start the St. Francis Leprosy Guild in 1895, a charity organization that still runs to this day in London. Kate eventually wrote several books including one published in 1893 titled “On Sledge & Horseback to The Outcast Siberian Lepers” documenting her journey in 1887. A tribute monument in Sosnovka near Siberia was also erected in 2014 in honour of her.

Kate Marsden's grave site at the Hillingdon cemetery in Uxbridge, West London

(Photo: Angela Atkins)

However, local Catholics believe that there is still insufficient awareness of her accomplishments.

“I’m still puzzled that despite all she did, little is known of Kate Marsden to the current generation,” says Fr. Nicholas Schofield. “Her story needs to make us dare to do more and to do things better.”