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St Paul's joins nation for minute's silence for victims of Tunisia shooting

30 June 2015

Exactly a week after a gunman killed 38 people on a beach in Tunisia, St Paul's will join the nation in a minute's silence for the victims.

At midday on Friday, 3 July, all staff and visitors to the Cathedral will pause to remember the dead, the majority of whom were British.

Prayers will also continue to be said at the Cathedral's regular services throughout the week.

The Church of England has issued three special prayers for the victims in Tunisia.

Compassionate God and Father of all,
we are horrified at violence in so many parts of the world.
It seems that none are safe, and some are terrified.
Hold back the hands that kill and maim; turn around the hearts that hate.
Grant instead your strong Spirit of Peace - peace that passes our understanding but changes lives, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
 
God of Hope,
we come to you in shock and grief and confusion of heart.
Help us to find peace in the knowledge of your loving mercy to all your children, and give us light to guide us out of our darkness
into the assurance of your love,
in Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen
 
Merciful God, 
hear the cries of our grief, for you know the anguish of our hearts.
It is beyond our understanding and more than we can bear.
We pray that justice may be done and that we may treasure the memory of their lives more than the manner of their death.
For Christ's sake.
Amen

The Tunisia attack, the largest loss of British life in a terrorist attack since the London bombings of 2005, comes at a particularly poignant time as the Cathedral prepares for a national service of commemoration next Tuesday, 7 July - ten years on from that fateful day in London.

A mourner on the beach in Tunisia
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