Bishop of Chichester reflects as UK passes grim milestone of 100,000 Covid deaths

In an interview on BBC local radio on Wednesday, Dr Warner said that the nation ‘will obviously want answers to some of the pressing questions’ posed by the death toll so far but said it was also a day ‘to thank God for those who have kept us going’.

It came after the UK recorded a total of 100,162 deaths with Covid-19, becoming the first European nation to pass the grim milestone.

The Bishop paid tribute to NHS staff, those working in schools and universities, shopkeepers and workers and all those good neighbours who had stepped up to the plate to help others.

“These are positive things and there are many we want to say thank you to,” said the Bishop, ‘including funeral directors and those who were helping bereaved families’.

When asked about the effects of the pandemic on the clergy and churches, Dr Warner paid tribute to the ‘resilient determination’ of his clergy and colleagues in helping local communities across Sussex.

“Of course, it’s not the same when it comes to worship at the moment, but people are doing new and different things and the worship of the church goes on,” added the Bishop.

“What is most important of all is that we are able to come through all of this and have a vision of hope for the future.”