other first responders and other people who have helped the survivors so much since then. welcome to manchester cathedral, where his services due to begin shortly to commemorate the 22 people who died in the terror attack on the manchester arena a year ago today. family and friends of the victims will bejoined by family and friends of the victims will be joined by the family and friends of the victims will bejoined by the prime minister, who hasjust arrived in the last few moments, and prince william. there will be survivors of the blast, embers of the emergency services, who responded to the calls for help, and national politicians of all parties gathering in the two people to remember them. you join us

for this special coverage of events here in manchester, and at half past two, during the national service of commemoration, there will be a nationwide minute of silence. the explosion happened of course at the end ofan explosion happened of course at the end of an ariana grande concert, the manchester arena just in the background here, half—hour shot. the cathedral, the arena itself. hundreds were wounded, but many life changing injuries and the psychological trauma and today the singer has expressed her support, saying, i love you with all of me and sending you all the light and warmth i have to offer on this challenging day. the service of

manchester cathedral starts very shortly at two o'clock, including the minute's silence at 2.30. i will just pause to see who is arriving, there is the duke of cambridge. prince william. a big cheerfrom the crowd. appreciating his presence. members of the royal family were among those who visited manchester in the days following the attack, visiting survivors in hospital. the prince taking a moment to chat to those outside the west door of the cathedral. including the dean of the cathedral. including the dean of the cathedral who has put this service

together. —— would help from the relatives of the victims. the relatives of the 22 victims a huge amount of security here today. as you would imagine. but crowds gathering as well in respectful silence outside the cathedral to show their support as well. as we watch prince william, i was just taking you through the details of events today. as i say, this national service of commemoration starting in a few minutes‘ time, one of the big set pieces of today and at 2:30pm during the service, that nationwide minute of silence. and

then this evening there will be a singalong in albert square at 7pm which includes among the many choirs taking part in the manchester survivors choir, a choir made up of survivors choir, a choir made up of survivors of the attack. and at 10:31pm bells will ring out across the city marking the precise moment the city marking the precise moment the bomb went off a year ago. with me here today is our correspondent colin paterson. you and i in the months since the attack have covered various aspects of this story including the one love manchester concert but let's talk about this national service of commemoration, pretty sombre mood, there was a cheer from the crowd when prince william arrived at a respectful mood. matzoh people have gathered in the cathedral gardens around the other side of the cathedral, and many taking longer lunch breaks than normal and i went to look and it was

a slightly more subdued atmosphere than you would normally get —— lots of people. people being very respectful going to watch the service on those screens and it's also being broadcast in cathedrals in york, glasgow and liverpool because this was an event that touched people all over britain, it was ariana grande's northernmost concert so many people had travelled down from scotland for the concert, so down from scotland for the concert, so that's why it is being shown in glasgow today. just beyond where prince william is still talking, we can see those trees of hope with the hexagonal cards attached. the trail of hope that stretches from the cathedral all the way down to victoria station and the arena itself. when we look at that honeycomb shape we think of the bee symbol, which apart from the industrial reference we know about, has come to represent the solidarity and community severe it. it was the

manchester symbol but lots of people didn't realise until after the attack last year and it became such an emblem. tattooist said, come and get a bee tattooed and we will give £50 to the charity, you see people wearing badges all the time in manchester. i live just wearing badges all the time in manchester. i livejust down wearing badges all the time in manchester. i live just down the road here and people are wearing badges over time, so many people have the bee tattooed, it has become a symbol of solidarity. there are 28 trees, all the way from victoria station which is attached to manchester arena, right through the cathedral. the path goes right down to st ann's square where the vigil was held after the bomb. people have been really taking time to think about what to write on those honeycomb shaped pieces of paper and they will be kept afterwards as a lasting tribute to those who lost their lives in the attack. as we listen to the organ in manchester cathedral played by geoffrey woollatt today, it makes me think of how music has been a constant river

running through all of this from the awful night of the attack, those thousands of people who had gone to enjoy music right through the response to this attack. music was one of the things that really helped manchester recover. that cannot be more emphasised. the very next night after the bomb simple minds played a gig and they said we would not stop playing. 0n the saturday five days after the bomb 50,000 people turned up after the bomb 50,000 people turned up to watch manchester band play at 0ld up to watch manchester band play at old trafford cricket club and then the concert that you were at, the 0ne the concert that you were at, the one love concert which took place within two weeks of the bomb happening, ariana grande returning to the city, she almost hosted that concert as well, she played 12 songs, it wasn't just turning concert as well, she played 12 songs, it wasn'tjust turning up to do one or two songs, the likes of coldplay, take that, they all turned up. that is why it is so appropriate to night, with this manchester together event using communal

singing to emphasise the power that music can have an people have been asked to print out song sheets so they canjoin in asked to print out song sheets so they can join in for this half—hour singalong which will include don't look back in anger at again, a very song for the recovery of manchester after the one—minute silence in st ann's square. one single voice struck up singing that song and then people joined struck up singing that song and then peoplejoined in struck up singing that song and then people joined in and struck up singing that song and then peoplejoined in and in the struck up singing that song and then people joined in and in the weeks that followed that song really did become an anthem. the anthem. of recovery, and it will be tonight. we watch as people continue to gather for this national service of commemoration. we have the very public arrivals, of course. we have seen prince william, we have seen the prime minister, theresa may, we have seen the mayor of manchester, andy burnham, scottish first minister nicola sturgeon, arrived a little while ago. the victims'

families are coming in through the south porch entrance which is screened off from the cameras, in more private arrival for them screened off from the cameras, in more private arrivalfor them on this very difficult, challenging day, as we heard from the chief executive of victim support earlier. anniversaries throw up so many memories and can be a particularly difficult time in a recovery for anyone, a time when at victim support they expect there to be even more course requiring emotional support. we arejust a we are just a few minutes away from the beginning of this national service of commemoration. 0ver the beginning of this national service of commemoration. over the past 12 months, what has struck you

most about the response to this attack here in manchester? what has been so impressive is the way people have pulled together, i keep mentioning that would solidarity, but it has felt like that, you have people who have gone out and really looked after people, they have formed choirs, singing has played an important part, you talked about the survivors choir, that's been one of the really encouraging aspects. and the really encouraging aspects. and the way that people have refused to let the events of that night affect their lives. the arena reopened in september with the we are manchester concert and that might lots of people said they didn't know if they would be able to get back to the arena and made the decision they had to go and continue with their lives, walk back through the foyer where the explosion had happened and went to see that concert that night at which peter kay and noel gallagher performed. that resilience, solidarity and the way in which the city has stayed together. walking down to the cathedral here today,

the bee symbol everywhere, we talked about how important that symbol has become, it has had a renaissance and it is such a vibrant symbol of life continuing people determined to go to work, go to places of entertainment, live their lives as normal. yes, when i was interviewing people in the weeks afterwards you heard the phrase saying we cannot let them win, we will continue with oui’ let them win, we will continue with our lives and that is what has happened. tonight i am sure you will see thousands and thousands of people heading into the centre of manchester to take part in this community singalong. just seeing prince william again, who will be delivering one of the readings here at the service along with different faith leaders, students, other representatives of the community who

have responded so magnificently to the attack, to the challenges thrown up the attack, to the challenges thrown up by the attack, to the challenges thrown up by the attack. and the welcome from the dean of manchester cathedral will remember those survivors, families, friends, all of those who live or work in manchester and beyond, those who served as front—line responders all volunteers who assisted with the immediate tasks on that night, and who have offered support and assistance since then, as colin was mentioning, people will also be watching in cathedral gardens at york minster, at liverpool metropolitan cathedral, and at glasgow cathedral as well

reflecting that many people travelled from those areas to the ariana grande concert at manchester arena that evening, 22nd of may last year. that aspect of bringing different faiths together is obviously very important, colin. a message of solidarity, first of all, a message that people will not be divided. there will be a prayer read by representatives of the sikh, hindu and muslim communities during this service that is about to take place, thatis service that is about to take place, that is one very important aspect of this today. it has been part of manchester's recovery, and has seen people from different parts of the community, people who would not normally spend a lot of time together, lots of friendships have been struck up over the last year by people spending time with people they would not normally through events and conferences run for

survivors of the event on the night. people have said that from a truly terrible event there have been positives to take from it. that prayer called united in our common grief, tamba hali youth choir will sing the rainbow, and you will over remember ariana grande singing that at the end of the one love manchester concert, not a dry eye in the house. the joy manchester concert, not a dry eye in the house. thejoy and brilliance and dancing policeman, that moment —— aulika youth choir. and dancing policeman, that moment -- aulika youth choir. people thought she had finished but she went for over the rainbow rather than one last time and people had been holding back the tears. lots of big early farmers were crying in old trafford cricket ground that night at that moment. i think people were very pleased that she has new social media today to say that she is thinking of manchester today. -- reduced social media. thank you,

colin. a reminder that in half an hour's time there will be a nationwide minute's silence as part of this national service of commemoration. the service due to begin in the next few moments, as i stand here looking around, lots of people gathering just outside the west door. many wearing t—shirts with the working bee. let's listen now to the dean of manchester. on behalf of manchester cathedral, i welcome each one of you to this national service of commemoration. among us are survivors of the manchester arena terror attack — those who have lost members of their families, or their friends, those who

live or work in manchester and beyond, those who served others as front—line responders or volunteers, or who assisted with the immediate tasks of coping with the loss of lives. we welcome representatives of our local and national life. this welcome also includes all of you watching in cathedral gardens, at york minster, liverpool metropolitan cathedral and glasgow cathedral. in this service we come together as people of different faiths and none, as we remember with love before god those whose lives were lost, and those whose lives have been changed forever and have to live with the terrible memories of that day 12 months ago. there is a land of the living and a land of the dead, and the bridge

between them is love: the only survival, the only meaning. let us pray: lord, make our hearts places of peace and our minds harbours of tranquillity. sow in our souls true love for you and for one another; and root deeply within us friendship and unity, concord with reverence. so may we give peace to each other sincerely and receive it beautifully. amen. music: amazing grace.

# amazing grace # how sweet the sound # that saved a wretch like me! # i once was lost, but now am found, # was blind, but now i see. # ‘twas grace that taught my heart to fear, # and grace my fears relieved; # how precious did that grace appear

# the hour i first believed! # through many dangers, toils and snares # i have already come: # ‘tis grace has brought me safe thus far, # and grace will lead me home. # the lord has promised good to me,

# his word my hope secures; # he will my shield and portion be # as long as life endures. # when we've been there a thousand years, # bright shining as the sun, # we've no less days to sing god's praise # than when we first begun.#

eternal light, shine into our hearts, eternal goodness, deliver us from evil, eternal power, be our support, eternal wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance, eternal pity, have mercy on us; that with all our heart and mind and soul and strength we may seek your face and be brought by your infinite mercy to your holy presence. amen.

please sit. the reading is taken from matthew chapter 11. come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and i will give you rest. take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for i am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. as twilight makes a rainbow robe from the concealed colours of day

in order for time to stay alive within the dark weight of night, may we lose no one we love from the shelter of our hearts. when we love another heart and allow it to love us, we journey deep below time into that eternal weave where nothing unravels. may we have the grace to see despite the hurt of rupture, the searing of anger, and the empty disappointment, that whoever we have loved, such love can never quench. though a door may have closed, closed between us, may we be able to view 0ur lost friends with eyes wise with calming grace; forgive them the damage we were left to inherit; free ourselves from the chains

0f forlorn resentment; bring warmth again to where the heart has frozen in order that beyond the walls of our cherished hurt and chosen distance we may be able to celebrate the gifts they brought, learn and grow from the pain, and prosper into difference, wishing them the peace where spirit can summon beauty from wounded space. united in our common grief, we pray to god by many names; we seek the power we need to find to hold us in this time of stress.

weeping, anger and fear are human reactions to tragedy and are shared by us all. whatever our creed, race, or circumstances, we are affected by loss and need to find a way of expressing our shock and bewilderment. we pray for understanding and for the strength and courage to cope with what has happened. as we share with one another, help us to find comfort in our companionship and active love through our common concern. we pray for all those

who have suffered and all who have died. we ask for healing and hope to restore shattered lives and for courage and determination to begin to build for the future. hold us through our grief. understand our anger and our questions. unite us in our concern and action and reassure us that this tragedy can be overcome. god of many names and faces, bless us at this time, and hold us through all that lies ahead. music: be still, my soul.

# be still, my soul: the lord is on your side; # bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; # leave to your god to order and provide; # in every change he faithful will remain. # be still, my soul; your best, your heavenly friend # through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

# be still, my soul: your god will undertake # to guide the future as he has the past. # your hope, your confidence let nothing shake, # all now mysterious shall be clear at last. # be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know # his voice, who ruled them while he dwelt below.

# be still, my soul: though dearest friends depart # and all is darkened in the vale of tears; # then you shall better know his love, his heart, # who comes to soothe your sorrow calm your fears. # be still, my soul; for jesus can repay # from his own fullness all he takes away.

# be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on # when we shall be for ever with the lord, # when disappointment, grief and fear are gone, # sorrow forgotten, love's pure joys restored. # be still, my soul: when change and tears are past, # all safe and blessed

we shall meet at last.# please be seated. this is adapted from thejewish memorial prayers, the yizkor. death has failed. you cannot inflict oblivion or eclipse existence on those who were life of our life. they live and move with us, and in us, in spheres beyond our dominion.

blessed are you, eternal god, who enables your children to remember. teach us to live wisely and unselfishly in truth and understanding, in love and peace, so that those who come after us may likewise remember us for good, as we, on this day and every day, affectionately remember those who were to us a blessing they live in us, in our hopes, and so shall their influence continue in our children. in you, eternal 0ne, they are, we are, one.

music: over the rainbow # somewhere over the rainbow, way up high # somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly # and the dreams that you dream of, dreams really do come true # someday i'll wish upona star # wake up where the clouds are far behind me. # where trouble melts like lemon drops, # high above the chimney top, # that's where you'll find me. # somewhere over the rainbow, # bluebirds fly

# why, oh why can't i? # when all the clouds darken up the sky. #toa

# to a place behind the sun. # to a place behind the sun. # somewhere over the rainbow. # skies are blue # and the dreams that you care to dream # really do come true # somewhere over the rainbow. # bluebirds fly birds fly over the rainbow

# why then oh why can't i? # if happy little bluebirds fly over the rainbow # why oh why can't i? children, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers, friends and colleagues, eve ryo ne and fathers, friends and colleagues, everyone was loved so very dearly by people who are here today as well as by those who are not. they will live on through those who love them, through those who continue to keep their memory alive with deeds and actions, those lost and their loved ones will forever be in the hearts

of the people of manchester. and so i pray eternal blessings on you as together we now remember those lost together we now remember those lost to us one year together we now remember those lost to us one year ago. music: tchaikovsky serenade for strings 0p a8, third movement: ‘elegie so would you please stand with me, as we observe the one minute's silence with people around our country. thank you. # the lord bless you and keep you;

# the lord make # his face to shine upon you # and be gracious unto you. # the lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you, # his face to shine upon you # and be gracious unto you. # the lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you,

# and give you peace. # amen.

the trees are coming into leaf like something almost being said; the recent buds relax and spread, their greenness is a kind of grief. is it that they are born again and we grow old? no, they die too, their yearly trick of looking new is written down in rings of grain.

yet still the unresting castles thresh in full—grown thickness every may. last year is dead, they seem to say, begin afresh, afresh, afresh. this is our hope for you. that the turmoil within you be stilled, and that you find calm. that the anxiety within you be quietened, and that you find peace. that the anguish within you be healed and that you find joy. that the gentle listening and understanding of those around you may help your trust in life

to be restored, that you find yourself strengthened and your hope return. amen. if i speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, i am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. and if i have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if i have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, i am nothing.

if i give away all my possessions, and if i hand over my body so that i may boast, but do not have love, igain nothing. love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. it does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. love never ends. but as for prophecies, they will come to an end;

as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. for we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. for now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. now i know only in part; then i will know fully, even as i have been fully known. and now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. may the words of our lips be

a cce pta ble may the words of our lips be acceptable in your sight, oh, god our strength and our redeemer amen. 22 people lost their lives, over 800 suffered injury or bear mental scars. that is one very stark fact. all the discussions about emergency responders, security services and terrorism, all those discussions that have taken place, they have only happened, because a device exploded a couple of hundred yards away from here and many were hurt and killed. today we go back to the heart of the tragedy. we come with those who are still suffering its

effects most keenly. we come together to assure them of the co nsta ncy of together to assure them of the constancy of our care. it is very appropriate that we gather in this cathedral, it stands in honour of a god who is himself constant and faithful. 0ne god who is himself constant and faithful. one of the most negative aspects of our society is while we sometimes overwhelm people with care and support in the immediate aftermath of injury or loss, we then withdraw, our interest taken off in other directions. too often just a few months on from an horrific event, those still bearing the pain are event, those still bearing the pain a re left event, those still bearing the pain are left feeling unsupported. some are left feeling unsupported. some are made to feel guilty at not having got over it. as rapidly as the rest of us would find co mforta ble. the rest of us would find comfortable. this cathedral reminds us comfortable. this cathedral reminds us that god isn't like that. it proclaims a god whose love never

ceases. god has no time table for our recovery. there is no date after which he expects us to have pulled ourselves together. he knows that the hurt we experience can last a lifetime. he is always ready to hear our cries and whisper words of comfort. in this cathedral, we are invited to number ourselves among those who will keep faith with the victims of may 2017. i know the work of the family liaison officers has been very important. care and concern are not things we can franchise out to specialist providers and assume we have discharged our obligation. we cease to acknowledge our role in supporting the victims and families of arena attack, while they continue to grieve and hurt over what happened to them, then we shall also

fail in that practical task of building a society fit for them to live in. the days after the attack, across a range of media, i assured the world that manchester would be there for the victims for as long as it takes. all who were affected have a lasting place in our hearts. you have become part of story of our city and we will be part of yours. quite soon it became clear that those most deeply affected by the tragedy were drawn are much wider area than our city and its surrounds. 0nly area than our city and its surrounds. only a handful of the 22 killed lived in this area. so it is appropriate that today's service is being relayed far beyond manchester, including as the dean said york, liverpool and glasgow. the arena families and survivors will need the

same families and survivors will need the sa m e love families and survivors will need the same love and care in the years ahead, even if they live and work farfrom this ahead, even if they live and work far from this city. support will need to be there for them in places where what happened in may 2017 is not part of shared story of that whole community. support will need to be given in villages and towns where the memory of last year will fade while here it stays firm. rightly very much attention has been given to the families of those who lost lives. theirs is the greatest lost. they are the ones who will never see that loved face or hear that voice again. yet i want us to remember the many others whose lives we re remember the many others whose lives were spared, but who suffered long—lasting damage in the attack. pa rt long—lasting damage in the attack. part of the horror of the arena it appeared to be chosen as a venue

that would be full of young people. today they're one year into living with those life—changing injuries and many decades of continuing to do so ahead of them. our society has rituals to mark a death. but we lack any equivalent for those who have lost limbs, suffered loss or will never recover their confidence again. many of the hopes and aspirations they took with them into the arena that night are gone. today, we mark and acknowledge their suffering. and pledge to play our pa rt suffering. and pledge to play our part for their future well being here on earth. there is another reason why i'm glad we are in this cathedral, because it is a place of hope. it is a very well used building. we host festivals. stage lectures. hold concerts, show films, serve dinners, as well as maintain

the rhythm of the church of england's worship day—by—day and week by day. when our ancestors planned this building, they knew what they were doing. you can't be in this place very long whatever event you're attending without our eyes being drawn upward. and that is deliberate. we may be engaged in our work on earth. but we must never forget the heaven beyond us. a few weeks ago the world mourned the death of professor stephen hawking, i had known him when i was a young graduate maths research in cambridge and even then he was a remarkable personality. someone in the days after he died remarked that in heaven he would no longer be in his wheelchair and it was a comment that upset many people living with impairments because it gets to the heart of what it is to be human. for some it implies that for people who

have such a condition, including those injured in the attack in manchester, are lesser beings needing what is wrong with them to be put right. 0ne needing what is wrong with them to be put right. one of my relatives a few years ago suffered from anxiety attacks and was prescribed medication which removed the symptoms but left him feeling blank and empty. he stopped taking the ta blets. and empty. he stopped taking the tablets. my anxiety, he said, is pa rt tablets. my anxiety, he said, is part of me and i'd rather have that than the emptiness the pills replace it with. i deeply believe that we are, each one of us, fashioned by a loving god, not simply to spend a short time on earth and then be obliterated but to reach our fullness and completion with god in eternity. who i will be when i get there will not simply be the man i am at the moment of my death at the totality of all myjourney am at the moment of my death at the totality of all my journey to the extent that my strengths and my

witnesses, my injuries and my limitations are part of that completeness, they will be reflected in my eternal personhood. 0ne completeness, they will be reflected in my eternal personhood. one of the most remarkable facts of the gospels is that when jesus rises from the dead that first easter the marks of the nails in his hands and feet, the wounds of his crucifixion are still visible on him, though no longer a cause of suffering and pain. his death on the cross has been an essential part of his story. it cannot and should not be expunged from his eternal body. i reckon heaven's pearly gates are wide enough to be wheelchair accessible. i believe that if professor hawking wa nts to i believe that if professor hawking wants to be in his chair he's got the choice, if he sees it only as a limitation he can get up and walk. but coming back down from heaven to earth the point of all this is to challenge us to work well alongside those who carry life changing

injuries from last year's blast, and evenif injuries from last year's blast, and even if you don't share my theology i hope you will still accept that imperative. for some victims the priority for the period ahead will be about rejecting and fighting the loss that they have suffered. for others it will be about accepting a new direction for life with some opportunities lost and new ones in their place. in both cases relationships will be different and friendships forged that would not otherwise have been the case. yet each and every life has full and equal value. 0ur task as the wider community gathered around the manchester victims and their families is to enable each to make their choices and live their life to their choices and live their life to the fullest extent. the magnificent sum raised by the charity appeal will help. it will be our emotional support in good times and bad along with our utter determination to see them as not reduced or made lesser

by what they have suffered that makes the real difference. a few days after the arena attack lord nick bourne the minister for faith communities came to meet with a number of us leaders at the cathedral and we gathered over there in the regimental chapel on the north side, it's the part of the cathedral that suffered most when a bomb fell on the roof during the second world war. if you go in that chapel you will see memorials recording that occasion. here in this ancient building is where manchester remembers significant moments in its history. it is where it pays its lasting respects to thoseit it pays its lasting respects to those it wants to see be honoured long after their lifetimes. final decisions about memorials to last yea r‘s decisions about memorials to last year's tragedy are yet to be taken but what can be guaranteed is that this place, so close to the spot where lives were lost or changed forever, will be here for those who

wish to come and remember. by us gathering here today we hallow it for all times to come. this cathedral is here, manchester is here, and you who were hurt or bereaved 12 months ago today are forever pa rt bereaved 12 months ago today are forever part of manchester, for ever pa rt forever part of manchester, for ever part of us. amen. # set me as a seal upon thine heart, # as a seal upon thine arm

# for love is strong as death # strong as death # many waters cannot quench love, # neither can the floods drown it. # for love is strong as death

# love is strong as death # neither can the floods drown it. # neither can the floods drown it # set me as a seal upon thine heart, # as a seal upon thine arm

# for love is strong as death this single candle represents all who remain: bereaved families and friends, those who were physically or psychologically injured and their families and friends, first responders, volunteers, and all those who have assisted or supported the community in their recovery. when you despair, when you are in the deepest darkness, remember this light and know that it is with you always and will guide each one of us home.

as the fever of the day calms towards twilight may all that is strained in us come to ease. we pray for all who have suffered violence today, may an unexpected serenity surprise them. for those who risk their lives each day for peace, may their hearts glimpse providence at the heart of history. that those who make riches from violence and war might hear in their dreams the cries of the lost. that we might see through our fear of each other a new vision to heal our fatal attraction to aggression. that those who enjoy

the privilege of peace might not forget their tormented brothers and sisters. that the wolf might lie down with the lamb, that our swords be beaten into ploughsha res and no hurt or harm be done anywhere along the holy mountain. let us pray for our city of manchester and for ourselves grant us, 0 god, a vision of our city, fair as she might be; a city ofjustice, where none shall prey on others; a city of plenty, where poverty

shall cease; a city in community, where success shall be founded on service, and honour be given to worth alone; a city of peace, where order shall not rest on force, but on mutual respect. send us out, 0 god, from this place, in the power of your spirit, that we may live and work to your praise and glory. amen. all: amen. hymn: i watch the sunrise

# i watch the sunrise lighting the sky, # casting its shadow near. # and on this morning, bright though it be, # ifeel those shadows near me. # but you are always close to me # following all my ways. # may i be always close to you,

# following all your ways, lord. # i watch the sunlight shine through the clouds, # warming the earth below. # and at the mid—day, life seems to say: # ifeel your brightness near me. # for you are always close to me # following all my ways.

# may i be always close to you, # following all your ways, lord. # i watch the sunset fading away, # lighting the clouds with sleep. # and as the evening closes its eyes, # ifeel your presence near me. # for you are always close to me

# following all my ways. # may i be always close to you, # following all your ways, lord. # i watch the moonlight guarding the night, # waiting till morning comes. # the air is silent, earth is at rest — # only your peace is near me.

# yes, you are always close to me # following all my ways. # may i be always close to you, # following all your ways, lord. go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the faint—hearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour everyone;

love and serve the lord, rejoicing in the power of the holy spirit; and the blessing of god almighty, the father, the son and the holy spirit, be among you and remain with you always. all: amen. music: got save the queen. # god save our gracious queen, # long live our noble queen, # god save the queen! # send her victorious, # happy and glorious, # long to reign over us,

# god save the queen! music: prelude & fugue in b minor byjohann sebastian bach a deeply moving and touching national service of commemoration here at manchester cathedral to remember the victims of the arena

bombing and to remember their families and the survivors as well. the 22 lit candles on the altar representing of course the 22 who died. those candles made from the wax of thousands of candles left in st ann's square in the city in the days after the bombing. another single lit candle to remember those who remain. and a very touching thought from the dean of the cathedral, saying those who died, they will live on through those who loved them. with me still is our correspondent colin paterson. the bishop of manchester with some touching words. yes david walker, his address speaking about the care of people who had been in the

disaster had received in the weeks after. he wants to reassure people that now they are not going to be forgotten. another thing that struck me, we look around there are hundreds of people who have come down to be outside the cathedral. these people behind us haven't got a screen to watch. they wanted to be here and experience this feeling of solidarity, to share that is afternoon with others and be near to what was going on. and applauding at the end of the minute's silence. big round of applause and beautifully observed as well by the crowds here. colin, thank you. we will hear more from colin later. so prince william, who delivered one of the readings and the prime minister theresa may, they at the end of the service will be meeting the families of victims and survivors to talk to

them, to learn more about their experiences in this past year. there was a big round of applause for prince william as he a arrived and appreciation from the crowd of his presence on this occasion. and that concludes our special coverage of this national service of commemoration, marking the first anniversary of the attack on the manchester arena. 22 people, the youngest of them just eight years old, died and hundreds more were injured. it is estimated more than 800 in that bombing which came at the end of ariana grande concert. we have seen survivors, families and friends of the victims, front line responders, prince william and representatives of many faiths at

this service. but this is not the end of the day's events, because later thousands are expected at the manchester together with one voice commemoration. this occasion was very sombre. i imagine this evening there will be a different atmosphere and you can watch the event live on the bbc news channel from seven o'clock when music which has been at the very heart of the city's recovery will ta ke the very heart of the city's recovery will take centre stage again. there will be a mass sing a i long and the songs will include the iconic don't look back in anger by oasis. but for now, from here in manchester, goodbye. you're watching afternoon live on bbc news.

we will be returning to manchester get more on the one—year anniversary on that terrorist attack later in the programme. let's bring you up—to—date with some of the other main stories this afternoon. the families of more of the 72 people who died in the grenfell tower fire have been remembering their loved ones on the second day of the public inquiry into the disaster. among those speaking this morning was the husband of maria del pilar burton, who died seven months after the fire, having never left hospital. our community affairs correspondent adina campbell reports. # amazing grace # how sweet the sound...#. debbie lamprell worked as a safety officer at holland park 0pera. this was one of the songs sung by the group at her memorial service.

a tribute by her mother was read by the opera's director. she would visit me every saturday morning and she would always bring me two scratchcards, and she would say, "i don't know why i'm bringing you these scratch cards because we don't need money. we are so lucky with what we've got." that is how she was, happy. she was happy with her friends, with herjob, with her life, with her neighbours, with living in ladbroke grove. and that's the cruel thing, she did not want more. she felt blessed. debbie was an exceptional, extraordinary person. and i was completely blessed to have her as my daughter. this is my husband... originally from spain, pily burton was one of the first people to live in grenfell tower in the 19705.

she and her husband were rescued from the burning building but she died in hospital.