Special guest at hospital chapel

Nurse Julia Meyer was photographed as the model to appear in the stained glass window of the Waikato Hospital Chapel.

Fifty-three years later, she was present at last week's recommissioning as a guest of honour.

Waikato Hospital patients, staff and visitors got their chapel and stained glass windows back as of last Wednesday week.

The chapel was decommissioned in June due to the construction work required in Menzies Building.

It was handed back to the chaplains, patients, staff and visitors with a special recommissioning ceremony.

Special guest Julia Meyer, the former Waikato Hospital sister who has since retired to Tauranga, says she felt privileged to share in Waikato Hospital's history in such a way.

While the chapel was out of action, the hospital offered a Quiet Room at Menzies level B1 which will remain a place of solitude for staff and patients as well as holding weekend and special services in the Bryant Education Centre Auditorium.

Waikato Hospital chaplain Anna Norrish says while it was great to be able to offer people those places, it wasn't the same and it's lovely to have our chapel back.

"There will be a lot of happy staff and patients now the chapel is being reopened."