Press Release

[Home]  [Index]   [Search]   [E-mail]

MEMORIAL FOR BALI VICTIMS, 12 FEBRUARY

Tuesday 11 February 2003

[Text of sermon by the Rt Revd Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford]

The Very Reverend Colin Slee, Dean of Southwark, will lead a Memorial Service at Southwark Cathedral for the UK victims of the Bali bombing on Wednesday 12 February. He comments: "Southwark Cathedral welcomes the families of those who suffered in the Bali tragedy. At this moment of high tension over Iraq and international concern about terrorism, it will be a particularly poignant memorial."

The families of the 26 UK citizens who lost their lives in the bombing and the 17 who received serious injuries will attend the service. HRH The Prince of Wales and a number of senior Government figures, together with representatives of different faiths and voluntary bodies, will also be present. The preacher will be the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev Richard Harries. The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Tom Butler will give the blessing. The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw will read from St John's First Letter. The actress Jemma Redgrave will read 'Farewell my friends', a poem by the Hindu poet Rabindranath Tagore.

Elements of the service

After the Dean's opening Bidding, clergy will light 26 candles in memory of those UK citizens who lost their lives, while the Cathedral Choir sing Psalm 121 set by William McKie - "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills; from whence cometh my help?" Following the New Testament reading and the sermon, they will sing Ireland's 'Greater Love'. Then prayers will be said for light and peace in various life situations, including all who were affected by the Bali bomb.

The poem by Rabindranath Tagore will be followed by an Act of Remembrance of those who died. Then children from the Cathedral School (the local Church of England primary school) will take 569 orchids to the families of the victims, seated in the nave of the Cathedral. Meanwhile the Balinese music group Gamelan Kembang Kirang, who are based in London, will play Sekar Sandat (Sandalwood Blossom). After the Blessing the Choir will sing 'In Paradisum' from Durufle's Requiem.

Ends.

Diocesan Communications Officer
Tel: 020-7939 9400
Mobile: 07831-694021
Fax: 020-7939 9468