Bahrain’s legacy of religious tolerance, education and healthcare was celebrated at a ceremony marking the laying of the foundation stone for the redevelopment of the American Mission Hospital (AMH) in Manama and the transformation of its historic Women’s and Children’s building into a healthcare museum.
Organised by This Is Bahrain under the title The Faith Triangle, the ceremony was held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad. It brought together hundreds of guests, ambassadors, religious and community leaders and representatives of civil society.
The occasion honoured three pioneering institutions – AMH, Bahrain’s oldest private school Al Raja School, and the National Evangelical Church in Manama, the oldest Protestant church in the Arabian Gulf.
Their histories are closely linked to the reign of Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, also known as Isa Al Kabeer, whose vision helped lay the foundations for their establishment and development in Bahrain.
In recognition of his contribution to the kingdom’s history, His Majesty issued a Royal Order designating 2026 as the ‘Year of Isa Al Kabeer’, honouring him as the founder of the modern state and a key figure in the development of Bahrain’s modern institutions.
AMH board chairman Dan Walters, who attended the ceremony with a delegation visiting from the United States, addressed the gathering, emphasising the importance of people of different faiths living together and working towards the shared goal of advancing healthcare.
The theme of unity across faiths was echoed by US Ambassador Stephanie Hallett, who reflected on the historical ties between Bahrain and the US and how faith and humanitarian service helped shape the kingdom’s healthcare landscape.
Ms Hallett recalled joining AMH Chief Medical Officer Dr George Cheriyan in July when he presented His Majesty with a commemorative gift marking the hospital’s legacy during the Year of Isa Al Kabeer.
“George also briefed His Majesty on plans to redevelop the historic hospital building on its original site and to establish the museum, both as a gift to the people of Bahrain and their beloved capital city of Manama,” she said. “After watching a video depicting the early days and history of the three institutions, or in other words, the Faith Triangle, I spent the rest of the day replaying in my head what those days meant and what they still mean.
“I think faith has everything to do with why we are here tonight, with the past that we reflect upon and the present that we are living and with the future we all hope to build together,” she said.
Ms Hallett highlighted the work of Samuel Zwemer, who arrived in Bahrain on December 7, 1892. Having studied Arabic in Beirut, he provided medical care and engaged with local residents.
Amy Wilkes Zwemer
In 1895, Mr Zwemer met English-Australian nurse Amy Wilkes in Baghdad. They married and returned to Bahrain, where they recognised the need for modern medical care. Zwemer had co-founded the ‘Arabian Mission’ with James Cantine in 1889, and in 1900, University of Michigan medical graduates Sharon Thoms and his wife, Marion Wells Thoms, arrived as Bahrain’s first modern physicians.
With the support of then ruler Shaikh Isa, the mission secured land in Manama to build a hospital. Originally named Mason Memorial Hospital, the American Mission Hospital opened on January 26, 1903.
In 1927, a Women’s and Children’s Hospital was built and named the Marion Wells Thoms Hospital, in honour of Bahrain’s first female physician, who died of typhoid in the country. She is buried in Manama Cemetery.
“Isa Al Kabeer stretched out his hand to these group of Americans, not only welcoming people of a different faith, but giving the land to build the hospital and help advance Bahrain,” Ms Hallett said.
This spirit of openness and service was also at the heart of remarks by This is Bahrain chairwoman Betsy Mathieson, who thanked His Majesty for his patronage, generosity and commitment to the welfare of Bahrainis and expatriates.
“His Majesty has always believed that principles must be translated into action,” she said. “His visionary directives, remarkable achievements and countless humanitarian initiatives reflect a reign in which human dignity, compassion and kindness are not simply ideals, but a way of life.”
The Zwemers
Ms Mathieson also praised His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the government, for their commitment to the security, dignity and well-being of everyone in Bahrain.
Reflecting on the significance of The Faith Triangle, she said the three institutions represented a shared legacy of faith, education and healing, carried forward through generations of leadership.
“Today, that legacy continues through His Majesty King Hamad’s magnificent gift – the rebuilding of the historic American Mission Hospital in Manama and the preservation of its heritage as a Museum of Healthcare,” she said.
“From Isa Al Kabeer to King Hamad, the vision has endured, the compassion has deepened, and the legacy has flourished.”
The redevelopment will preserve an important chapter of Bahrain’s medical history while supporting the country’s future healthcare needs.
As previously reported in the GDN, Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said the project builds on more than 125 years of healthcare development in the kingdom. He also highlighted the hospital’s significance as a symbol of the long-standing friendship between Bahrain and the US, which began through humanitarian and medical co-operation before expanding into a strategic partnership.
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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