The Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, and the Bishop of Doncaster, the Rt Revd Sophie Jelley, have issued the following statement ahead of a service for Sheffield teenager Harvey Willgoose:
“We were deeply saddened by the devastatingly tragic events this week. Our prayers are with the families involved and the school community. It’s hard to imagine just how distressing this is for Harvey’s family and friends, and for the wider community in Sheffield. We pray for peace and especially pray for young people who are fearful following this senseless act of violence.
“We have written to All Saints Catholic High School and to Bishop Ralph Heskett (Bishop of Hallam) with the assurance of pastoral support. Conversations are ongoing to try and pull faith leaders together across the city during this very difficult time.
“We are praying for the service at Handsworth taking place tomorrow and hope it can offer some comfort and support for everyone involved. At a time of fear and sadness, it is our hope that this service will help bring people together in remembrance of Harvey and those closest to him.”
For anyone who has been affected by the events of this week, there are several resources available for on the Church of England website: Grief, Bereavement and Loss | The Church of England