Manchester Cathedral service to remember coronavirus victims will be live streamed today

Anyone in Greater Manchester who has lost a loved one during the pandemic is being invited to attend an online memorial service at Manchester Cathedral this morning (July 16).

The socially-distanced, interfaith service will be led by The Very Rev’d Rogers Govender, Dean of Manchester, and live-streamed on the Cathedral’s Facebook page.

The start time is 11am.

Dean Govender and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham will also launch an online book of remembrance titled ‘GM Remembers‘.

This will be a permanent tribute to all those who have left us since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Anyone can upload the name and personal details of their loved one, together with a picture and a personal tribute.

It will be free to access and read at at any time.

The memorial website has been built by volunteers from digital agency, Reason Digital.

Dean Govender said: “This service and the memorial are for everyone who has been touched by the terrible effects of COVID-19, those of all faiths and of none.

“We grieve for those who have lost their lives in our communities and we share in the loss and suffering of their families, friends and colleagues.

“It has also been so much harder for those who grieve because they have been unable to gather together and remember in the normal way because of the restriction on gatherings.

“So I hope this service and the memorial will allow them to be comforted and to share their memories even if it is too early to talk about achieving some sort of closure.”

Andy Burnham added: “It has been heartbreaking over the past few months to hear people’s personal stories of how they have been affected by the loss of a relative or friend.

“We look after each other in Greater Manchester and I hope this memorial will allow us to show the love and care that is felt for those who died.

“I hope also that this memorial will allow our community to pay particular tribute to those who worked in health and social care and who died of this disease.

“We will never forgot them and their service to our communities.”

#GMRemembers