Life

From Belfast to Belsen and Birmingham

Belfast-born Redemptorist Fr Dan Cummings had a remarkable life and career. Leaving home three days after his 15th birthday, he went on to serve as a British Army chaplain, help liberate Belsen concentration camp and become a pioneer ecumenist in Clonard Monastery - and share sweets with Ian Paisley... His niece, Rosemary Doherty, tells his story

Fr Daniel Cummings, in a portrait painted in 1946 by Hans Baumeister, a survivor of the Belsen concentration camp
Fr Daniel Cummings, in a portrait painted in 1946 by Hans Baumeister, a survivor of the Belsen concentration camp Fr Daniel Cummings, in a portrait painted in 1946 by Hans Baumeister, a survivor of the Belsen concentration camp

IT made the young girl cry and retch. The grainy, jolting image on the black and white television could not dull the horror recorded: emaciated bodies with pleading eyes, death piled high, unimagined barbaric atrocities.

She knew someone who had been in this grim war - her uncle, Fr Dan Cummings.

He had never spoken to her of the horrors he witnessed and was not surprised at her reaction to the graphic TV images.

He confirmed that he had been there as an army chaplain, and was involved in the liberation of Belsen concentration camp in Germany.

"Well, you just must write it all down," the girl said.

"You've had such a varied and interesting life that you should write your life story."

Many years later, a letter arrived to the girl from her uncle. The task was complete.

Dan Cummings had written his story. Over a four-year period, he had sacrificed his free time, rising at 4.30am each day to work on his manuscript - 140,000 words, written in longhand, and sent to me, his niece, the girl who had been so moved by the television images.

Dan Cummings was first and foremost a Belfast man. He loved the city and its people.

He had been born into a devout Catholic teacher's family in 1907, and spent his young days living in Agincourt Avenue, a mainly Protestant area in the south of the city near Queen's University.

He had many happy memories of life there, despite eventually having to leave because of increasing sectarian tensions.

The family got the chance of a house exchange to Springfield Road in west Belfast, close to Clonard Monastery.

Inspired by his education at St Malachy's College and his admiration for the self-sacrificing Redemptorist ideals, Dan decided, at the age of 15, to enter the 'juvenate' or preparatory college for the priesthood.

It was a difficult decision for himself and his family, as it entailed 'migrating' to Limerick.

But he was determined and, ignoring the difficulties, he headed off alone for his new life.

He was never to live at home again. After the demanding and uncompromising regime of his novitiate and student days, he was eventually ordained a Redemptorist priest in Esker, Co Galway in 1930.

He was secure in being part of the impressive religious tradition in his family that reached back to 1742. Over five generations, 16 members of the family had been ordained priests.

His great great grand uncle was known as 'the old priest' and probably tended those who fought in the battles of '98.

His mother's uncle was Dr Richard Marner, first president of St Malachy's College; her brother was Dr Daniel Mageean, who become bishop of Down and Connor.

The family also had a strong Redemptorist connection. An uncle, Fr Robert Mageean, was a Redemptorist missionary in Australia; one cousin, Fr Joe Morgan, would become a Redemptorist missionary in India; and another, Fr Robert Quinn, would go to the Philippines.

Other family members of the 'Reds' included Brother Malachy Morgan and Richard McCall, who died as a student for the priesthood in Esker.

Dan's first appointment took him 16,000 miles from home to the Philippines. He was swept from a life of protective obedience to having to fend for himself. He set off by boat to an alien country with alien illnesses.

It was one of these which put him back on the boat to Ireland three years later. Back in Ireland, Dan was sent to the new house of studies in Galway to help the preparation of young men for the priesthood by teaching them sacred scripture.

His quiet life of study and teaching in Galway was rudely interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War.

The religious orders were asked to provide priests as chaplains to minister to the growing number of Catholic men in the forces. Dan applied and was accepted. He arrived in England and entered a new life as a British army chaplain.

Dan was among the men who landed in Normandy on D-Day, June 6 1944.

In the following weeks, he proceeded through war-torn Europe. He was with the army that liberated Brussels. He spent much of his time serving in hospital tending the wounded and eventually those liberated from Belsen.

Like all the chaplains, Dan provided an immense support system for all those they encountered, friend and foe alike.

Dan had good German and was able to hear the confessions of German prisoners.

One he encountered was a young Redemptorist brother conscripted into the army. In gratitude to Dan, he carved him a wooden statute of St Gerard Majella. It can still be seen in Clonard Monastery.

Back in the Belfast he loved, Dan was enthusiastic in embarking on a new venture: a 'Mission for non-Catholics' in Clonard. It was the idea of the then-rector, Fr Gerry Reynolds; years later, his nephew - also Gerry - continued this work. When he died last week, he was mourned as a courageous advocate for Christian unity.

Fr Dan knew that the war years had radically transformed attitudes in Belfast. Catholics had fought alongside Protestants, and both traditions had sheltered together in Clonard's crypt during air raids.

The first mission was held on the Sundays of Lent in 1948. This work brought him into contact with a newly self-appointed minister by the name of Ian Paisley. They made good sparring partners and had many a heated discussion, even sharing sweets on occasion...

On the basis of the talks and questions that arose during the mission, Dan produced a book, The Facts about the Catholic Church.

It had an initial run of 5,000 in 1956 and a reprint of 12,000 in 1968. He had a gift for writing that was accessible, simple and succinct. He prided himself on being able to write for the 'man in the street'.

After a few quiet years, Dan was offered a fresh challenge in 1966 - to go to Birmingham as chaplain for Irish immigrants.

It was the time of massive road construction in Britain. Many of those who built the Gravelly Hill Interchange, better known as Spaghetti Junction, were Irish.

It is said that Dan knew each worker by name. When they realised he wasn't collecting or preaching, he became accepted and respected as a friend. They knew him to be good listener and a solicitous advisor.

His work in Birmingham included running an Irish club and befriending those immigrants who worked in the hotel trade.

Fr Dan died in Birmingham on May 25 1977. He is buried in the Redemptorist plot in Milltown Cemetery, Belfast.

:: Rest and Be Thankful - Autobiography of a Belfast Missionary by Daniel Cummings C.Ss.R is published by Colourpoint, £12.99. A version of this article first appeared in Reality, the Redemptorists' magazine. Rosemary Doherty, Fr Cummings's niece who persuaded him to write his memoirs, is a retired lecturer and lives in Belfast. She edited the book and oversaw its publication.

:: Rosemary Doherty will be giving a talk about Rest and Be Thankful at a meeting of the West Belfast Historical Society in Falls Park Pavilion at 7.30pm tomorrow. This is a free event and all are welcome.