This is a text-only version of an article first published on Monday, 21 December 2015. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
CHURCH volunteers at a special Christmas prayer space watched and prayed as shoppers fled from Abingdon's Poundland store following a fatal stabbing. It was the first day of the Prayer Space when Sarah Fry, volunteer community worker from Christ Church, Abingdon, and other volunteers, realised something was happening in the town centre. "We had a good view and could see people running away from Poundland.
It was all a bit hairy but we were able to take stock and pray for what was going on," said Sarah.
People were fleeing the store following the death of Justin Francis Skrebowski, 61. For the rest of the week a special tree outside the prayer space, became covered in tributes and prayers for Mr Skrebowski, his family and for the community in Abingdon. Sarah had enlisted volunteers from eight different churches as well as BeSpace co-ordinator Catherine Clayton, to set up a reflective space in a community shop in the south Oxfordshire town in the run up to Christmas.
Despite the horrific events of the first day, the week saw 400 people take time out from their Christmas shopping to reflect on the Christmas story. "It's a community shop in the town centre that groups can use for free.
We had asked if we could use it and chose a week when it was free, and when we could work with Catherine.
We set up five different stations giving people the chance to think about the story with a prayerful or thoughtful activity. "The space was open from Monday 7 December, when the incident took place, until Saturday 12 December.
"It seemed quiet during the week but the Saturday was really busy with people coming and working their way through the prayer stations," added Sarah.