London: memorial service for 7 July bomb victims

Her Majesty the Queen is leading a national memorial service for the victims of the 7 July London bombings this afternoon. Relatives who lost loved ones, survivors and members of the emergency services will join a 2,300 congregation at St Paul's Cathedral at 3pm. Prime Minister Tony Blair, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the Archbishop of Canterbury and other politicians and religious leaders will also be among those at the service. The attacks by four suicide bombers left 52 people dead and many hundreds injured. The service will be conducted by the Dean of St Paul's, the very Reverend Dr John Moses. Mayor Ken Livingstone will read the lesson and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will preach. During the service Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, will pray: If the darkness shall cover me and the light around me is turned to darkness; All: the darkness is not darkness with you, O God, for the night is as clear as the day. The Reverend Esme Beswick, Co-President of Churches Together in England, will pray: In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, All: To shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor will say: In the silence of this place, we commend those who have died into the hands of almighty God, that his healing light may shine upon them, and in that ight he may grant them rest, mercy and peace. Four candles will be lit to represent King's Cross, Aldgate, Edgware Road and Tavistock Square - where the bombs exploded during the morning rush hour. The service is being broadcast live on BBC1 in A Service of Remembrance: London 2005 from 2.40pm, and on BBC Radio 4 from 3pm.