Churches across the borough will tomorrow say prayers for the Paris terrorist attacks.
On Friday evening, three teams of attackers killed 129 people and injured more than 350. They attacked a concert, a sports stadium, restaurants and bars. One of the people who died was Brit Nick Alexander.
The events are part of a terror campaign being waged by IS – Islamic State – and follows January’s attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebbo.
Across the globe, iconic sites have been lit up in the colours of the French flag including the London Eye and the Brandenburg Gates.
Tomorrow, Wokingham’s churches will lead a response to the attacks by offering places of prayer and contemplation as well as leading prayers in their services.
Father Richard Lamey, from St Paul’s Church in Reading Road, Wokingham, said that the church will be open to all.
“There will be prayers in the service and the chance to light candles in church as usual. We are open every day from 9am to 5pm as well for people to pray and be quiet.”
Services will be held tomorrow at 9.30am and 6.15pm.
In Finchampstead, the evening service at St James’ Church will be focused on the events in Paris.
Associate priest the Revd Mark-Aaron Tisdale, said: “I will be centring our reflective Worship service, tomorrow night beginning at 6pm on this event, especially in light of Remembrance and Armistice Day just gone… Prayers for the souls of the dead will be offered.”
All Saints Church in Wokingham is holding its annual memorial service at 3pm. The event will have an extra poignance this year as it seeks to remember lives lost over the past year.
Norreys Church in Norreys Avenue will also reflect on the events in its 10am meeting.
Claire Revie said: “We will be praying regarding the situation.”
Kings Church, which meets at 10.30am at Wokingham Youth and Community Centre in Reading Road, will devote a portion of its gathering to focusing on the awful events that took place in the French capital.
Keith Saynor, one of the church’s leaders, said: “We will be praying towards the beginning of the meeting.”
The church of St Mary the Virgin in Winnersh will also pray for the victims of the Paris attacks in its services tomorrow at 8am and 11am.
The Revd Samuel Denyer said: “We’ll mention the events in our prayers.”
A one-minute silence will be led across Europe at 11am on Monday.
