News by email Donate

Suggestions

Ammanford school picbanner.JPG
Ammanford school pic.JPG
World News

'The anxiety and the panic was palpable': Vicar urges prayer for close-knit community in trauma after school stabbing

by Donna Birrell

The Bishop of St Davids has expressed his deep concern following a stabbing incident at a school in Carmarthenshire on Wednesday.

Rt Rev Dorrien Davies says his thoughts and prayers are with the injured and the staff, pupils and families of everyone affected.

Amman Valley Comprehensive remains closed today after two teachers and a pupil were injured yesterday. A teenage girl is in custody.

All Saints Church in Amman Ford is next to the school, and it's been providing pastoral support and tea and coffee to the community, which is said to be in shock. 

Its vicar, Rev Alison Reeves, who has only been in post for two weeks, told Premier Christian News: "I'm still getting to know our community, but like many Welsh towns, it's an ex-mining community, and it's very close-knit. I don't think there's anybody here who doesn't have a connection with the school and to see the parents outside yesterday afternoon, the anxiety and the panic was palpable. It was just a very worrying time for everybody in the community.

When she first heard there had been an incident, Rev Alison raced to the church. 

"We're lucky to have a church just feet away from the school boundary. So we were able to be here to offer support to the parents. We've had our doors open, the doors are open again, today and tomorrow for anybody who wants to come up and just spend some quiet time, to light a candle, to have somebody pray with them."

The vicar is asking people to pray for the community at this time: "It's a huge trauma for those we were talking to yesterday. It's a huge trauma for those who were physically injured, but it's actually a huge trauma for our whole community. The ripples from this will envelop the whole community - the families of those that were injured, the girl herself and her family. We pray for how they must be feeling because that girl's life is changed forever. And so we will be praying for everybody who's involved in this incident, and we're praying for our community.

"We would love prayer for people to see where God is in this. He is here, and we want people to feel his presence."

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate