Covid-19 victims to be remembered at special service at Sunderland Minster in memory of those who've died in 2020

Each year, the church marks All Souls with a remembrance service, in which people light a candle to remember loved ones.

This year, Provost Stuart Bain says the service will be all the more poignant because of the pandemic.

He said: “Memories are precious things especially of those who have died. This has been a really hard year for many people and lots of families are grieving.

"Our own city of Sunderland has been hit hard by the impact of Covid 19. There is much sadness as families have said goodbye to those they love and continue to know the pain of grief.”

On Sunday, November 1, Sunderland Minster will be holding a time of prayer from 2pm - 4pm and during this time anyone may come and spend some time in church, say a prayer, light a candle for a much-loved family member or friend.

Because of the Minster's connections with the University Chaplaincy, the service will also be remembering those from Sunderland University who have died this year and the memorial book will be in church.

The Revd Canon added: "All Souls is a poignant and moving time full of emotion and sometimes hard grief. The Minster is a place where you can come and share this with God. You would all be very welcome at any time on Sunday afternoon."

Earlier this year, a new Minster Park was unveiled on the historic Town Park site as part of the Bishopwearmouth Townscape Heritage Scheme.

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