EVENT: Reflecting on the loss of a child

Losing a child is a painful experience for any parent.

An annual Remembering Service has been held for around 30 years at Ss John the Baptist & Kentigern Parish in Edinburgh to give parents a time to grieve, reflect and pray.

This year it takes place at 5:00pm on Sunday 2 March in St John the Baptist RC Church, Corstorphine.

One of the organisers said: “A variety of people attend, from those whose loss has been quite recent to others whose loss may have been up to 40 years ago.

“There are some who have experienced miscarriage, abortion, stillbirth or the death of an adult son or daughter.

"There are also those who come in support, one of whom recalled that her mother had suffered two miscarriages and she was suddenly struck, during the service, by the realisation that she had two relatives in heaven. She had never thought of it like that before."

The service has been found helpful to those who have not had the opportunity to fully acknowledge and grieve for their loss

The service may be helpful to anyone who feels that they have not had the opportunity to fully acknowledge and grieve for their loss.

The service was developed in the 1990s following a query from two men who had attended a pro-life talk.

The organiser said: “They came up to us at the end and said they felt there was no way of recognising the loss of miscarriage within the Church and asked if we would be able to think of anything.

"That led to us starting the service which has developed, over the years, into what it is now.

"The service has been found helpful to those who have not had the opportunity to fully acknowledge and grieve for their loss.

"There is an opportunity to share stories over tea and coffee after in the hall. For some this is an important part of the service and we try to have someone from Held in our Hearts present.

"It is a time for quiet reflection and can be a time for tears."

A Remembering Service Sunday 2 March 2025 at 5.00pm in St John the Baptist RC Church, Corstorphine, 37, St Ninian’s Road, Edinburgh, EH12 8AL. Ecumenical and open to all. Refreshments available afterwards.