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Betty Cartwright
Betty and Peter - 1984
Betty Cartwright died in her home in County Donegal, Ireland in May 2006. She had a wonderful testimony as she had suffered cheerfully and patiently with MS for many years. Betty and her husband, the late Peter Cartwright (who died in 1984) had been missionaries with BCMS in Karamoja, Uganda from 1953 to 1964. Betty was originally from Belfast and Peter from Lancashire. They made a great contribution to God's work in Karamoja. They arrived in Lotome in 1953 with a young baby - Elizabeth. Betty started the Teacher Training College and was not able to leave Lotome for her first eighteen months.
The British Government's ban on church buildings in Government Headquarters was lifted at the end of the 1950's - so Peter was allowed to get land in Moroto and build a house and a Church (which is now the Cathedral). They moved into Moroto and opened a key ministry there. Meanwhile, John and Rosemary had been born. Betty was a supreme home-maker but also had an open house including a Sunday school that met there.
the family in Uganda - 1962
They were then also the leaders of the BCMS work with Peter as Field Secretary, responsible for leading a team of twenty missionaries. He was gifted at inspiring them and looking after them. He had a great vision to reach all the parts of Karamoja, which is the size of Wales. He did preaching safaris himself and also organised mission teams. Betty was often in Moroto without Peter. When Peter and Betty left in 1964 Peter passed on his vision of dividing the whole area into parishes. He left one ordained Ugandan pastor from another area. Now there are 35 Karamojong pastors Peter and Betty's contribution in Karamoja has borne much fruit.
(With thanks to Brian Herd for gathering this information and to Betty's daughter Rosemary for providing the photographs)