Local church offers help after Corfu family tragedy

When tragedies and disaster happen, in towns and villages across Britain there is often a local Vicar to help comfort the bereaved families. But even when Britons are hundred of miles from home, on holiday in Europe, a parish priest may be on hand to offer practical help and support.

The Reverend Clifford Owen, Priest-in-charge of Holy Trinity, Kerkyra on the island of Corfu, found himself involved in a family tragedy which hit the world’s headlines in the past week, when two children died in a fume filled room at a hotel near his home in Gouvia.

Mr. Owen was able to liaise with the many reporters who came to the island and act as a link with the bereaved families, passing on news and short statements to take some of the pressure off them.

Members of the church joined in prayers for the families and commemorations for seven year old Christine and six year old Robert who were overcome by fumes from what is believed to be a faulty gas boiler at the hotel. Mr Owen says their service last Sunday was particularly poignant as people shared in the grief and joined in prayer for the survivors. The service had been announced as a Special Songs of Praise with the Volante Strings Orchestra from Worcester. A meaningful, if more subdued, service was filmed by television media including the BBC.

Subsequently Clifford Owen and his wife Avis have been able to visit Neil Shepherd, the children’s father and his partner Ruth Beatson in hospital before they were allowed to fly home. Here again he was able to pass messages to the waiting media outside the hospital and express the love and concern of his congregation.

The links will not stop there. Holy Trinity congregation will be represented at the funeral of the children, in West Yorkshire, by a couple in Barnsley who also live in Corfu for 6 months of the year. Mr Owen said; “It is good to know that the church is there when people need special help in tragedies, and it has been a humbling experience to pray with some of those involved and offer the love and peace of God where it is most needed.”

NOTE:- The church on Corfu is one of 270 congregations across Europe, with 140 clergy – such as Clifford Owen, as part of the Church of England’s Diocese in Europe ministering in the Anglican tradition mainly in English language and serving residents and visitors in 45 countries, across 9 time zones. For more information, please contact Revd. Paul Needle, Diocese in Europe Communications Officer 01933 312800 or 07833 372439