Former Church of England missionary, Eleanor Foss, of Winchester, has had a new chapel in Japan named after her.

Eleanor (92) now lives in a Winchester nursing home.

The chapel, at Poole Gakuin University in Osaka, was dedicated earlier this year. It seats 700 and contains a Christian Centre with a chaplain's room, office, meeting room and a kitchen.

Eleanor, a former pupil at St Swithun's School, Winchester, was the daughter of Hugh Foss, a United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel missionary in the Kobe-Osaka area of Japan.

He was consecrated Bishop of Osaka in 1899. Her mother, Janet, started Shoin High School, an Anglican girls' school in Kobe.

Born in Winchester, Eleanor lived 11 years in Japan before she was repatriated to attend secondary school and university in England.

She returned to Japan with the CMS but had to leave shortly after the outbreak of World War II. She spent from 1941-47 in Ceylon--now Sri Lanka.

Returning to Japan, she became a member of the planning committee to instigate junior colleges for women. She became the first principal of Poole Gakuin Junior College when it was opened in 1950.

Eleanor ran Bible classes and helped with the Girls' Friendly Society and the women's group meeting. She also taught a mid-week English class for the children of Christian parents.

She wrote three short books, Seven Meet a Typhoon, Spotlight on Japan and How They Came, full of stories of witness, fellowship and service to the Gospel in Japan.

Before retiring and returning to England, Eleanor was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 4th class, by the Emperor for her work for women's education in Japan.