Copied from the Kensington Area website.
Following the tragic death of Fr. David Paget, Vicar of St Andrew's Fulham, Bishop Michael led worship and prayers at the West London church.
Speaking to a packed congregation, he said, "Our lives have been devastated in recent days: not only by the news of David Paget's death but also by the nature of that death. News of what happened on Wednesday came as a great shock to all of us, myself included, and it is right and appropriate that we begin this mornings Eucharist on this glorious Feast of Pentecost with a moment of reflection, of thanksgiving and of sadness as we reflect on Father David's life and ministry as well as on his recent death.
Many people in Fulham have already expressed their appreciation both for David's ministry and for his deep sharing in the life of the local community. All of us come today with our own particular memories and thanksgiving for his friendship and ministry to us.
But in the world in which we live there is sinfulness, suffering and evil. It is into this world of suffering and violence that Jesus Christ himself came - and it was his self-giving love, which overcame all the evil he encountered.
Father David would not want us to dwell, today on the nature of evil, on the events surrounding his death but, rather, on the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ who calls us out of darkness into light, a Gospel David so readily proclaimed in his ministry here.
It is that same Gospel that both brings us here and supports us as we in our frailty and sadness, gather round the Table of the Lord and worship a loving Father to whom we commit David with love, thanksgiving and confidence.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory."