The order of service for the memorial for Sir David Amess in Southend has been announced.

Bells tolled at St Mary’s church in Prittlewell as mourners began to arrive for the funeral.

The father-of-five, who was stabbed to death while holding a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea on October 15, was a devout Catholic.

His friend and colleague Mark Francois is to deliver a eulogy at Monday’s private ecumenical service at St Mary’s Church in Prittlewell.

Read more >> Live: Mourners gather in Southend for Sir David Amess MP's funeral

The veteran MP’s friend, former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, is to read a statement on behalf of the Amess family.

Following the 1pm service, a horse-drawn hearse will carry the casket on a procession through Southend.

It is due to pause outside Southend’s Civic Centre and again outside Sir David’s constituency office, Iveagh Hall, before returning to the chapel of rest.

Here is the order of service for today's memorial

 

The order of service for Sir David Amess funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess' funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess' funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess' funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess' funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess' funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess' funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess' funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess' funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess' funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess' funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess' funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess funeral in Southend

The order of service for Sir David Amess' funeral in Southend

 

Sir David Amess’s friend and colleague Mark Francois said he had “mixed emotions” on the day of Sir David’s funeral in Southend.

Mr Francois, who is to deliver a eulogy at Monday’s private ecumenical service at St Mary’s Church, said as he arrived: “We’d all rather David was still with us.

“But this has been an opportunity for the whole of the community of Southend to come together and to pay their respects.

Read more >> How to follow the funeral and horse-drawn hearse procession for Sir David Amess

“I genuinely believe David was loved in Southend and this is a chance for the people of what will now be that city to express their sympathy with Lady Julia and the family.”

Mr Francois said Lady Julia “deliberately wanted to have two services” for Sir David.

“She wanted to have one in Southend so that the town could grieve and pay its respects,” he said.

“And then because David was a staunch Catholic, his faith was immensely important to him, as were his family and his constituents, there will be a full requiem mass at Westminster Cathedral tomorrow.”