Church service to honour Mandela

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 08 Desember 2013 | 15.36

7 December 2013 Last updated at 22:27 ET

A service of thanksgiving for the life of ex-South African president Nelson Mandela is being held in London later.

The Archbishop of Canterbury will make an address at St Martin-in-the-Fields, a church which had strong links to the anti-apartheid movement.

A national day of prayer and reflection is also being held across South Africa.

The Prince of Wales will reportedly represent the Queen at Mr Mandela's funeral next Sunday, as the monarch is reducing her long-haul travelling.

The church of St Martin-in-the-Fields stands a few feet away from the South Africa High Commission in Trafalgar Square, where a book of condolence has been opened and floral tributes continue to be placed outside.

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1918 Born in the Eastern Cape

1943 Joins ANC

1956 Charged with high treason, but charges dropped after a four-year trial

1962 Jailed for five years for incitement and leaving country without a passport

1964 Charged with sabotage, sentenced to life

1990 Freed from prison

1993 Wins Nobel Peace Prize

1994-99 Serves as president

2004 Retires from public life

2010 Last major public appearance at football World Cup in Johannesburg

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, will reflect on Mr Mandela's life at the service, which will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 08:10 GMT.

It will be led by the Rev Dr Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin's, and there will also be a live link with a service at Christ the King Church in Sophiatown, Johannesburg.

Former poet Laureate Andrew Motion will recite his poem To Nelson Mandela: A Tribute.

Mr Mandela died on Thursday evening aged 95 at his home in the northern Johannesburg suburb of Houghton after a long illness.

Downing Street said that Prime Minister David Cameron had written to South Africa's president Jacob Zuma and Mr Mandela's widow Graca Machel to express his condolences.

In the letter, the prime minister paid tribute to Mr Mandela's "extraordinary grace and dignity".

Mr Cameron added: "He gave the world new hope that the deepest wounds can be healed and that freedom and reconciliation can triumph over division and hate."

Neville Lawrence, the father of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence, recalled meeting Mr Mandela when he visited Britain - shortly after his son was killed in a 1993 attack.

Mr Mandela had said he was "deeply touched" by what had happened to the teenager, and Mr Lawrence said his compassion had given him the impetus to fight on.

Mr Lawrence added that during Mr Mandela's illness he felt "part of his family because of the way he treated us".

Meanwhile, the Muslim Council of Britain has become the latest organisation to pay tribute to Mr Mandela, with its secretary general Farooq Murad describing him as "an iconic example of our time, an inspiration for all those who stand up for freedom and justice, equality and fairness".

On Saturday, a minute's applause was held in Mr Mandela's honour before kick-off at football matches across the UK.

A day earlier, the Queen led the UK in sending her "sincere condolences" and said she was "deeply saddened" to learn the news of his death.

She met Mr Mandela on his state visit in 1996 and in the UK on several occasions after he stood down as president of South Africa.

But she is expected to miss his funeral on 15 December.

Buckingham Palace said in May it was reviewing the amount of long-haul travel the Queen undertook and the Prince of Wales has already represented her at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka last month.

However, the Queen is reportedly expected to attend a national service of thanksgiving for the life of Mr Mandela at Westminster Abbey, which will take place in the new year.

Plans have also been revealed for the UK Parliament to host a special ceremony to commemorate his life.


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