MPs and peers mourn Sir David Amess at St Margaret’s Church

Monday, 18th October 2021

MPs and peers mourn Sir David Amess at St Margaret’s Church

A Service of Prayer and Remembrance for Sir David Amess MP was held at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey, on Monday 18th October 2021.

The service was attended by the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, members of the Cabinet, MPs, and peers who all processed from the Palace of Westminster at the close of parliamentary business.

The service was conducted by the Rector of St Margaret’s, the Reverend Anthony Ball, Canon of Westminster, who said:

'Here, in the parliamentary church, we come to mourn the untimely death of Sir David Amess MP, to pray for Julia, their family, and all who feel his loss so keenly, to remember the kindness and commitment of a friend and colleague, and to console each other in our grief.
Here we acknowledge a shared sense of vulnerability even as we express the determination to maintain our public service. Here we seek God’s protection and the needful gifts of courage and strength for the days ahead.'

The opening prayer was said by the Venerable Tricia Hillas, Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons and Canon of Westminster.

The Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, read Isaiah 12; and the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, read 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-end.

The Address was given by the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Primate of All England.

Prayers were led by Canon Pat Browne, Roman Catholic Duty Priest to the House of Commons; and said by the Right Reverend Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham; the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York and Primate of England; and the Speaker’s Chaplain.

The service was sung by St Margaret’s Consort conducted by Greg Morris, Director of Music. The organ was played by Richard Pearce.

After the service the bells of St Margaret’s were rung half-muffled.

The Archbishop of Canterbury's Address (PDF, 85KB)

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