Memorial to city's Covid-19 victims installed at Sunderland Minster

A focus for prayer and remembrance, the memorial features a wooden cross for each victim on a map of the city.

Canon Stuart Bain, the Provost of Sunderland Minster, said: "We are all continuing to live in difficult times and as a nation we face an absolute tragedy with the number of deaths related to Covid-19.

“Across the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, there have been 325 deaths (the number relates to hospital deaths) to date due to the virus. That is a huge number of grieving families facing the real pain of losing someone they love.

“At the Minster we wanted to mark this in some way and say they are not forgotten. So in the Minster we have placed 325 crosses on a map of Sunderland in the shape of a heart to remember all those who have died and their families who grieve. This is providing a focus for our continued prayer."

The Minster is open from Monday to Saturday from 10am-noon for prayer and the chance to light a candle.

Stuart added: “If you have been touched by grief then please come and spend some moments in church, you would be very welcome.”

The Minster remains open amidst ongoing works taking place in the area as part of the Bishopwearmouth Townscape Heritage Scheme.

The £1.9million redevelopment project includes creating a public square on the Town Park grass area in front of the Minster.

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