Parishioners in Machynlleth are to sponsor a child in Uganda in memory of April Jones following her funeral tomorrow (Thurs).
And all donations from April’s funeral at St Peter’s Church will go towards the sponsorship, which is being organised by the Christian charity World Vision.
Revd Kathleen Rogers, priest-in-charge, says the idea came because people wanted to see something good come out of the tragedy. A five-year-old girl in a village in Uganda will be sponsored by the parish until she finishes her education. Other donations will be an extra gift for the girl, her family and her village to use as they need. The parish will receive regular updates and photographs about the girl as she grows up.
Mrs Rogers says, “We have all, by the grace of God, come through a terrible, terrible tragedy; we are battered and bruised but by His continued grace we will find healing and peace.
“In an attempt to see some good out of this tragedy, we have decided to sponsor a little girl from a village in Uganda in memory of April. April’s parents have kindly asked that donations from her funeral be donated to this sponsorship and we are very grateful to them.”
April Jones’ funeral service will be held at St Peter’s Church tomorrow at midday. It will be a service of hymns and prayers with no eulogies. Hundreds of mourners are expected and will wear pink, April’s favourite colour, or a bright item of clothing. Balloons will be released at the end of the service.
Mrs Rogers, who will lead the service, says she hopes it will help April’s family and community begin to heal.
She says, “A funeral plays a significant part in the grieving process and the funeral of little April will be even more important for her family as the probability of such a service was very remote until the inquest two weeks ago. Our prayer is that it will be a starting point for them as they travel the long and painful journey of healing. It will also, I think, give the community permission to bring some sort of normality back to our town.”
In a message to be read out at the service, the Bishop of Bangor, Andy John, says, “The Diocese of Bangor is holding you as a family and as a community in its prayers. You are not alone.”
For more information about World Vision and the child sponsorship programme visit http://www.worldvision.org.uk/child-sponsorship/
Photograph Revd Kath Rogers and Bishop Andy John lighting candles for April following her disappearance last year.
