On 13 March 1996, 43-year-old Thomas Hamilton arrived at Dunblane Primary School and murdered sixteen children and their teacher. The Dunblane massacre as it became known, remains the deadliest mass shooting in British history.  He entered the school gym, in which a Primary One class were preparing for a PE lesson and started shooting.  Within four minutes he had killed sixteen children, as well as their teacher, Gwen Mayor, injuring fifteen others. He then turned the gun on himself. The children who died were all aged between five and six years old.

Two days after the shooting, a vigil and prayer session was held at Dunblane Cathedral which was attended by people of all faiths.  The following Sunday the Queen and Princess Anne, attended a memorial service at Dunblane Cathedral.

In trying to find hymns that offered an appropriate response, John Bell realised that there was precious little and so he wrote one.  The result is the hymn “There is a place prepared for little children”. I find these extracts very moving:

There is a place where hands which held ours tightly
now are released beyond all hurt and fear

There is a place where al the lost potential
yields its full promise, finds its true intent

There is a place where God will hear our questions
suffer our anger, share our speechless grief,
gently repair the innocence of loving
and of belief.

At 11:47am on Monday in Southport, three young girls were killed in a “ferocious” knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed summer dance and yoga class. Eight more children were injured, with five left in a critical condition. Two adults also suffered critical injuries in this truly horrendous incident. A 17 year old boy from Banks in Lancashire a few miles away has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, all in all a tragedy for so many people.

Few of us, if any, can fully comprehend what the parents of the Dunblane children went through or what the parents of the Southport children are going through. All we can do is hold them all in our prayers.

Lord of all compassion

We pray for all of those caught up in the tragedy in Southport.
For the children who have lost their lives
For those who are worried about people they love
For those who will see their loved ones no more
For all whose lives will never be the same again
Lord Have Mercy.

For those in need of the peace that passes all understanding
For all who turn to you in the midst of turmoil
For those who cry out to you in fear and in love
For all whose lives will never be the same again
Lord Have Mercy.

For those in confusion and those in despair
For those whose tears are yet to dry
For those in need of your unending love
Lord Have Mercy

Lord of all compassion

Father and unfailing friend,
be with all the people of Southport 
as they try to take up the threads of their lives again
facing the future with fresh courage and renewed hope;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Blessings
James