An extraordinary 3,000 people filled St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday, 30 October, as national bereavement charity AtaLoss celebrated its tenth anniversary and launched a major new initiative calling on churches to help tackle the growing impact of grief.
Twice the number anticipated attended the special service bringing together bereaved families, ecumenical church leaders, parliamentarians, dignitaries, professionals from healthcare and the bereavement sector and volunteers from across the UK.
It was particularly encouraging to see church leaders from across different Christian traditions alongside many who faithfully lead The Bereavement Journey® in their local communities. Their presence reflected both the growing unity of the Church in responding to grief and the extraordinary commitment of volunteers who walk alongside bereaved people week after week.
Behind the remarkable turnout were deeply personal stories. One woman attended because she had been unable to go to a friend’s funeral earlier that day. Another entered the cathedral just twenty minutes after learning of her brother’s death.
Hundreds of candles were lit, while people queued to write the names of loved ones on ribbons and attach them to symbolic washing lines, creating a powerful visual expression of remembrance.
But the evening carried an invitation beyond the cathedral walls: to build on the work of hundreds of churches already offering The Bereavement Journey, so that more across England become places where grief is not simply acknowledged at funerals, but supported for months and years afterwards.
AtaLoss was founded by the Rev Canon Yvonne Tulloch following the sudden death of her husband, and AtaLoss has spent ten years helping bereaved people find support. Its flagship programme, The Bereavement Journey®, is now offered in 670 UK locations, enabling churches and community organisations to provide structured, compassionate support to people navigating loss.
Speaking after the service, Yvonne said: “The number who attended is testimony to the public’s desire for grief to be recognised. We have come a long way, but in many respects it’s just the beginning.”
Preaching at the service, the Rt Rev Rob Wickham, Group Chief Executive of Church Urban Fund, challenged society’s expectation that bereaved people should simply have “moved on”, highlighting the Church’s opportunity to offer lasting comfort, community and hope.
The occasion received messages of support from His Majesty The King, the Archbishop of Canterbury, AtaLoss’s Patron, and the Speaker of the House of Commons.
The gathering launched the first Bereavement Matters Season, running throughout November and December 2026, encouraging communities to talk openly about grief and helping people effectively access support.
Coinciding with All Souls, Remembrance, Advent and Christmas, the initiative offers churches a timely opportunity to reach those experiencing loneliness in their loss.
To help churches take part, AtaLoss has produced a dedicated Bereavement Matters Season Toolkit, offering practical ideas and resources to help congregations create opportunities for remembering, open conversations about grief and connect bereaved people with tailored support.
For churches of every tradition, the invitation is clear: bereavement matters, and the Church has a vital role in ensuring nobody faces it alone.
AtaLoss is a Charity and Network in Association with Churches Together in England.
Photo credits: AtaLoss