MPs sit shoulder to shoulder at emotional service in honour of Sir David Amess
Boris Johnson, Sir Keir Starmer and MPs from all parties came together at the emotional service (Pictures: PA)

Sir David Amess had a ‘fairness of spirit and charity of heart’ which endeared him to those across the political spectrum, a service in his memory has heard.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, sitting beside Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, bowed his head as politicians from all parties gathered at an emotional service at St Margaret’s Church in central London to honour the late MP, who was fatally stabbed on Friday at a surgery for constituents.

They listened as the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, said there is ‘a unanimous conviction amongst all who knew him’ that Sir David had been ‘of the best’.

Mr Welby told the congregation the ‘light lit by public service’ provided by MPs like him ‘must never be put out’.

A sombre procession of about 800 MPs and peers, dressed in black, filed into the church beside Westminster Abbey on Monday, following an afternoon which saw tributes paid in both the Houses of Commons and Lords.

It also saw Southend granted city status as a moving tribute to Sir David, who led a decades-long campaign for the move for the seaside town until his murder.

Mr Johnson announced the move as he led passionate cross-party tributes in the Commons to one of the ‘nicest, kindest and most gentle’ MPs.

Earlier today, Sir David’s heartbroken family visited a memorial outside the church where he was stabbed to death.

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epa09530648 People hold a vigil for MP Sir David Amess outside parliament in London, Britain, 18 October, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to lead tributes to MP David Amess at parliament later today. Amess was stabbed to death at a church in Leigh-on-Sea 15 October. EPA/ANDY RAIN
The service was held in honour of the late MP Sir David Amess (Picture: EPA)
Armed police officers hold their guns as Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (2L) and Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer (3L) lead Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Houses of Parliament to attend a service to pay tribute to slain British lawmaker David Amess, St Margaret's Church, in central London on October 18, 2021. - British lawmakers paid tribute in parliament on October 18 to their killed colleague David Amess, as counter-terrorism police probed whether a suspect arrested was motivated by Islamist extremism. Veteran Conservative MP Amess, who was 69, was stabbed to death in a church hall on October 15 as he met voters, in the second such attack on a UK lawmaker in five years, prompting fresh fears about the safety of politicians. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Armed officers on guard as the MPs and peers filed into the church (Picture: AFP via Getty)
(Left-right) Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and SNP Wesminster leader Ian Blackford attend a service to honour Sir David Amess at the Church of St Margaret, in the grounds of Westminster Abbey, London. Picture date: Monday October 18, 2021. PA Photo. The Conservative MP died after he was stabbed several times at a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on Friday. A man has been arrested and officers are not looking for anyone else. See PA story POLICE MP. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
Mr Johnson, Sir Keir and SNP Wesminster leader Ian Blackford (Picture: PA)
MPs and peers attend a service to honour Sir David Amess at the Church of St Margaret, in the grounds of Westminster Abbey, London. Picture date: Monday October 18, 2021. PA Photo. The Conservative MP died after he was stabbed several times at a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on Friday. A man has been arrested and officers are not looking for anyone else. See PA story POLICE MP. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
MPs and peers from al parties sat shoulder to shoulder (Picture: PA)

During the service, Mr Welby described Sir David as having ‘a robust fairness of spirit and charity of heart that won the admiration and affection of all sides, regardless of whether they agreed with him politically or not’.

He said the late MP will be remembered alongside other politicians who have been killed in recent decades, adding: ‘He was of the best, and his name will be remembered with Airey Neave, Robert Bradford, Anthony Berry, Ian Gow and Jo Cox, those MPs murdered since 1945, and others, like Andrew Pennington, who have died 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.’

The archbishop said Sir David’s political service was inspired by ‘his strong personal faith’, describing him as a man of deep Catholic Christian faith.

He said: ‘The light that David held out through his service, inspired by his strong personal faith, that light held by all in public service, may flicker but it will not be extinguished.

‘In the face of mindless injustice, we determine to shine it all the more brightly.’

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (C) talks with The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (2L) as he leaves after attending a service of remembrance and prayer in honour of slain British lawmaker David Amess, St Margaret's Church, opposite the Houses of Parliament in central London on October 18, 2021. - British lawmakers paid tribute in parliament on October 18 to their killed colleague David Amess, as counter-terrorism police probed whether a suspect arrested was motivated by Islamist extremism. Veteran Conservative MP Amess, who was 69, was stabbed to death in a church hall on October 15 as he met voters, in the second such attack on a UK lawmaker in five years, prompting fresh fears about the safety of politicians. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Mr Johnson talks with The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (Picture: AFP via Getty)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 18: Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle attends a memorial service for Sir David Amess at St Margaret's church on October 18, 2021 in London, England. Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, was stabbed to death while meeting with constituents in Leigh-on-Sea on Friday. A 25-year-old man, Ali Harbi Ali, was arrested at the scene and the attack is being treated by police as a terrorist incident. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle attends the memorial service (Picture: AFP via Getty)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 18: Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg attends a memorial service for Sir David Amess at St Margaret's church on October 18, 2021 in London, England. Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, was stabbed to death while meeting with constituents in Leigh-on-Sea on Friday. A 25-year-old man, Ali Harbi Ali, was arrested at the scene and the attack is being treated by police as a terrorist incident. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg (Picture: Getty)
MPs and peers arrive at The Church of St Margaret, in the grounds of Westminster Abbey, London, to attend a service to honour Sir David Amess. Picture date: Monday October 18, 2021. PA Photo. The Conservative MP died after he was stabbed several times at a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on Friday. A man has been arrested and officers are not looking for anyone else. See PA story POLICE MP. Photo credit should read: Victoria Jones/PA Wire
A sombre procession of about 800 MPs and peers, dressed in black, filed into the church beside Westminster Abbey (Picture: PA)

The service of remembrance saw prayers offered for Sir David, his loved ones, and those who ‘feel vulnerable in public service’, with a hope for ‘peace in our land and an end to rancour and the threat of violence’.

The Reverend Anthony Ball, Canon of Westminster and Rector of St Margaret’s Church, prayed for ‘courage and strength’ for all those affected by Sir David’s death, and spoke of the MP’s ‘kindness and commitment’.

Other prayers at the service referenced causes close to his heart, including supporting those living with disability, the humane treatment of animals, and for decency in public life and discourse.

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