CAPTION: A service of ‘Prayers and Hope for Plymouth’ was held at the minster church of St Andrew on Wednesday 18 August at 10.30am
Candles Lit in Keyham Service and Across Devon to Remember Victims
Candles were lit and flowers laid during the service of ‘Prayer and Hope’ to bring Plymouth together, which was held in the minster church of St Andrew’s on Wednesday 18 April, six days after five people were killed by a gunman in the Keyham area of the city.
Big screens were set-up outside the church to allow more people to attend the service
The Bishop of Plymouth, the Right Reverend Nick McKinnel led the service and in his address he said, “Most immediately we feel a deep sense of sadness and sorrow.
“We stand alongside those who are bereaved and injured and distresses. We weep with those who weep, we cry as the writer of that Psalm does out of the depths of despair.”
Read Bishop Nick’s full address here.
Members of Plymouth’s emergency services attended the service.
The service included readings and prayers for the City of Plymouth, for the people of Keyham, for the emergency services, for those working in mental health and for the bereaved, the injured and the anxious which were led by members of the Keyham community. Read the order of service here.
Five candles were lit for Maxine Davison, Sophie Martyn, Lee Martyn, Stephen Washington and Kate Shepherd and a minute’s silence was observed for the five victims and their killer Jake Davison.
The service was live-streamed on the Plymouth City Council YouTube channel by PL! Events
To allow as many people to attend as possible, large screens were set-up outside St Andrews which showed the live-stream.
Bishop Nick said: “My hope is that this service will give the opportunity for those of us from across the city to stand with the people of Keyham in expressing our shock and sadness at the events of last Thursday, and to have time and space for prayer and reflection in the aftermath of this tragedy.”
Candles were lit one-by-one for each of the five people who were killed
The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Terri Beer said, “There are no words to express the sorrow that we currently all feel, it is therefore important that we all stand united with our fellow residents in Keyham.
“This service will be a moment for us to come together as a city, remember those we have tragically lost and show the rest of the world how strong we are.
“Plymouth is a strong, resolute city. And even in the face of unimaginable horror, we will pull together and support Keyham over the coming weeks, months and years.”
A Prayer for Keyham
God of compassion and love,
Let your peace rest gently on the people of Keyham,
Particularly on those who have lost family, friends or neighbours.
Watch over them in their grief.
Keep this community safe as it seeks time to heal,
and neighbours rebuild their lives in friendship, trust and hope;
for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
The Prayer of St Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith:
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
