As it happened: Southend to become city as service held for Sir David Amess

BBCCopyright: BBC

The choir sings Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem in D minor, which marks the end of the service.

The choir and clergy depart, and then MPs and peers begin to file out of the church.

After the Lord's Prayer and the hymn Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer, the Rev Anthony Ball thanks those who have helped organise the service at short notice.

He then gives the blessing, telling people to "go forth into the world in peace, be of good courage, hold fast that which is good, render to no one evil for evil".

He asks them to "strengthen the fainthearted, support the weak, help the afflicted, honour all people" and "love and serve the Lord".

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

Canon Pat Browne, Roman Catholic duty priest to the House of Commons, introduces the prayers.

He starts by saying: “Let us pray for the soul of David Amess, and for all who have died in the service of Parliament.”

Bishop of Durham Paul Butler says: “Let us pray for all who mourn David’s passing: for those who are in shock and deep sadness, especially his family, his friends, colleagues, and staff in his constituency, party, and across Parliament.”

The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, who was a friend of the late MP, says: "Let us pray for those causes closest to David’s heart: for the support of those living with disability; for the humane treatment of animals; for decency in public life and discourse.

"Let us give thanks for his care of individuals; his ability to listen, and his determination to help."

The Speaker’s Chaplain says: "Let us pray for Parliament: for those who feel vulnerable in public service, and those charged with their protection; for peace in our land and an end to rancour and the threat of violence."

Canon Browne finishes by saying: "Let us pray for ourselves, that we may be given strength, courage, and protection in our public service."

The Archbishop goes on to say that Sir David will be remembered alongside MPs and others who have been killed in the course of public service.

"Public service in politics is a sacrifice that should be honoured and respected even when differences of opinion run very deep indeed - David showed that," he says.

"The light lit by public service, by you all and your colleagues, must never be put out even in the darkest moments," he says.

He says for Sir David's family this time is "as dark as it could be".

The Archbishop says Sir David's public service was "inspired by his strong personal faith" and says that light "may flicker but it will not be extinguished".

He says that while we "mourn and grieve" we also thank those who serve in politics - "we need them".

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, begins his address by saying that the "noble calling of politicians in a democracy is to make all manner of sacrifices - seen and unseen".

He says that is why across the nation we should be thankful to everyone who is present "who give so much despite the cynicism, abuse and cruelty they so often endure".

He says that often in great tragedies "we conclude that the best are among the first to suffer".

"In this great tragedy there is a unanimous conviction amongst all who knew him that Sir David was of the best," he adds.

The Archbishop speaks of Sir David's wholehearted support of causes "from the now achieved city status of Southend" to "great causes of the future of our nation around Brexit", and says that all these came with a "robust spirit and charity of heart".

PaCopyright: Pa

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer are among around 800 politicians attending the church service to remember their colleague, Sir David Amess.

Politicians from all parties, including Jacob Rees-Mogg, Priti Patel and Lisa Nandy sat in the rows behind the PM, who sat on the front row alongside Starmer and SNP Westminster leader Sir Ian Blackford.

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

After the choir leads the congregation in the hymn Abide With Me, the Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, reads Isaih 12.

The choir, St Margaret’s Consort which is conducted by Greg Morris, then sings Psalm 112 before Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, reads from Thessalonians.

He reads: "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

"For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died."

BBCCopyright: BBC

The Rev Anthony Ball opens the service by saying: "We gather here in prayer and remembrance, as have parliamentarians for hundreds of years, held in the steadfast love of God.

"Here, in the Parliamentary Church, we come to mourn the untimely death of Sir David Amess MP, to pray for Julia, their family, and all who feel his loss so keenly, to remember the kindness and commitment of a friend and colleague, and to console each other in our grief.

"Here we acknowledge a shared sense of vulnerability even as we express the determination to maintain our public service. Here we seek God’s protection and the needful gifts of courage and strength for the days ahead."

The service of remembrance for Sir David Amess has begun at St Margaret's Church, beside Westminster Abbey.

It is being led by the Rev Anthony Ball, Canon of Westminster and Rector of St Margaret's Church.

BBCCopyright: BBC

The traffic was stopped, the street was silent for Sir David Amess's friends and colleagues to make the short walk across the road from Parliament to St Margaret's Church through the autumn afternoon.

But though there had been sadness and even tears as the Commons and Lords paid tribute to Sir David - there was a surprising amount of laughter too.

Everyone who knew him seemed to have an anecdote about his irreverent joie de vivre alongside his kindness and gentleness.

Democracy may be about debate and division, but even MPs who disagreed with him politically were united in this - that they'd lost a good and decent man.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Labour leader SIr Keir Starmer and House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle are among the parliamentarians who have gathered for a service in memory of Sir David Amess.

It is taking place across the road from Parliament at St Margaret's Church in the grounds of Westminster Abbey.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will take part in the service, due to begin at 18:00 BST.

HoCCopyright: HoC

After two hours MPs have finished paying tribute to Sir David Amess in the House of Commons.

Many shared stories of his humour and kindness as well as the hard work he put in for his constituents.

• PM Boris Johnson said the Queen had agreed for Southend to be granted city status, something Sir David campaigned for at every opportunity
• Romford MP Andrew Rosindell said Sir David "sacrificed everything" for his constituents, describing him as a "fine example of a parliamentarian"
• DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he "epitomised the true meaning of public service" and his "greatest joy came not in holding office but in how he could use that office to instigate change"
• Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith recalled Sir David forming a conga with councillors when the Tories won Basildon council and described his "mega-watt smile"
• Labour's Kim Leadbeater, sister of the murdered MP Jo Cox, offered her "love, support and solidarity" to Sir David's family and implored MPs to offer theirs in the coming weeks as "they will need it"

MPs have finished paying tribute to Sir David Amess in the Commons and are now heading over to a church service in memory of him.

It is being held at St Margaret's Church, in the grounds of Westminster Abbey, and the Archbishop of Canterbury will give an address.

The service is due to start at 18:00 BST.

"Nobody could doubt [Sir] David [Amess's] wish to make the world a better place with his kindness," says fellow Conservative MP Sir Bernard Jenkin.

Sir Bernard says this quality - kindness - should be known in public life in future as "the David Amess principle".

Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader, Liz Saville-Roberts, says people don't appreciate how much MPs work together, but "they do and Sir David did".

This "terrible, abhorrent death" makes us remember that when we stand up for democracy we are standing up for civility, for good behaviour and for treating people properly, she says, adding: "Violence must never be allowed to succeed again."

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

Labour's Stephen Timms - who himself was stabbed during his constituency surgery in 2010 - says kindness was evident throughout Sir David's career.

He recalls working with him on Newham Council in the 1970s and says he managed to win over everyone from across the political spectrum.

"He was accessible to his constituents and we must now reflect on what more we can do to stop that happening again," he says.

"I wonder if we might ask the police to review our appointment lists ahead of each surgery for example."

The Green Party has announced it will not put forward a candidate in the by-election set to take place in Southend West following the death of MP Sir David Amess last Friday.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have already said they will not take part. No date has yet been set for the contest.

PA MediaCopyright: PA Media

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater - sister of the murdered MP Jo Cox - offers "love, support and solidarity" to the family of Sir David Amess.

She recalls "physically trembling" and feeling "physical pain" when she heard in 2016 that her sister had died, adding that there followed a "rollercoaster of deep trauma that nobody should have to experience".

The House of Commons tributes to Sir David would be a "morsel of comfort" at their time of pain, Leadbeater says.

She implores fellow MPs to offer his family support over the coming weeks and months, adding that "they will need it".

HoCCopyright: HoC

Labour MP Yvette Cooper says that "every one of us" has a story of something they worked with Sir David on, and that so often "kindness and compassion" were at the heart of it.

She says that, as her office was above his, often they would walk to the Commons together chatting about their families.

She says that hanging on Sir David's office door is cardboard cutout of a knight in armour "with the helmet tilted in a jaunty way".

"And that knight in shining armour is what Sir David would have been for so many of his constituents," she says.

She quotes Jo Cox saying "we have more in common than that which divides us" and says Sir David "showed us how to do this".