Memorial is the result of a partnership between Manchester Cathedral and GMCA
Bereaved families and friends of those who have lost their lives as a result of the coronavirus pandemic in Greater Manchester are being invited to leave personal and public tributes in a new memorial.
People of all faiths (or none) who have been bereaved by the virus will be able to submit the name of the person they have lost, a photo and messages about them as well as view other entries in the book of remembrance.
It has sometimes been too easy to forget that every single person who died is mourned and has left behind family and friends in grief
The online memorial book, created in partnership with Manchester Cathedral and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority will offer the opportunity to pay particular tribute to loved ones who died from COVID-19 while working on the frontline in the NHS and social care. Staff at Reason Digital have volunteered their services to develop the online memorial website.
A small number of invited guests will attend the service at Manchester Cathedral on Thursday 16th July 11am-12pm, but the service will be broadcast live through the Cathedral’s Facebook page.
The online book of remembrance will be launched during the service.
For Twitter, #GMRemembers will be used
The Very Rev’d Rogers Govender MBE, Dean of Manchester, said: “The pandemic has taken the lives of so many who are dear to us and our communities. So many people have lost their husbands, wives, partners, parents, grandparents, their family, their friends and their colleagues.
“Worse still, we have not been able to provide normal funeral gatherings, so people have not been able to provide that comfort and sharing in loss that is a normal part of bereavement.
“This online memorial is a place to remember all those who have died as a result of the pandemic in Greater Manchester, those of all faiths and of none.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “All of us in public life have been deeply touched by the individual stories of loss that we have heard far too often over the past few months.
“In the middle of a crisis that has affected tens of thousands of people it has sometimes been too easy to forget that every single person who died is mourned and has left behind family and friends in grief.
“As a community we wish to express our compassion and support for those who suffer loss, to remember the sorrows and sacrifices of others and express gratitude for the memories we treasure.
“The memorial will also offer the opportunity to pay particular tribute to the frontline health and social care staff who put themselves at risk and too often paid the ultimate price through their care for others. We will never forget what they did.
“I hope that through this online memorial we will be able to pay tribute and remember with affection every person who died of COVID-19 in Greater Manchester.”
More than 2800 people have died of COVID-19 across Greater Manchester and the memorial will launch with a Manchester Cathedral interfaith online service on 16th July.
