Mass for Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse

A special Mass for Amy Winehouse will take place at 7pm this evening at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Kentish Town, north London.

Parish Priest Fr Tom Forde, said: "Amy lived in our parish and many people have been very affected by her death. We will be praying for Amy and her family and friends at this sad time."

Amy Winehouse died last Saturday at her home in Camden Square. Since her death hundreds of fans have been bringing candles, flowers and pictures every day to the square to pay their last respects.

One parishioner said: "The sadness, love and reverence shown by Amy's fans, to me demonstrates a real sense of the spiritual among these young people."

Phil Callaghan, national president of the Young Christian Workers said: "I was saddened to hear of the death of Amy Winehouse on two different levels. As a musician, I am certain her music and her powerful and soulful voice will be appreciated by many generations to come. But as a young person, I was also saddened at the death of a young woman whose last few years had been plagued by problems with alcohol and drug addiction. While we are not yet certain whether this was the cause of her death, it seems likely that these factors will have contributed to her untimely fate.

"Unfortunately, addiction is a common issue among young people in today's society and while Amy's problems have been well publicised, many young people suffering from addiction are isolated and forgotten. We must no longer treat addiction as a taboo subject.

"I hope Amy's death has highlighted further the need for support and help for young people with addictions, especially in the Church."

Tonight's Mass takes place at 7pm. Our Lady Help of Christians Church is at 4 Lady Margaret Road, Kentish Town, NW5 2XT.