| KATE and Gerry McCann attended the parish church of Rothley, Leicestershire, twice last Saturday evening during a four-hour vigil to pray for Madeleine, their daughter, who disappeared from their holiday apartment in Portugal six months ago (News, 18 May).
The evening vigil focused on missing children across the world, and was a joint initiative by the Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, and Roman Catholic churches. Posters at the front of the church featured children missing around the world, including Madeleine.
Speaking on Tuesday, the Vicar, the Revd Rob Gladstone, said that, although the McCanns are Roman Catholics, the Anglican church was considered more suitable for the vigil because of its size.
The McCanns visited the church at the beginning of the vigil with their two-year-old twins for private reflection. Later in the evening, they returned with other family members and friends to mark the exact time that Madeleine went missing.
“Generally, it was a vigil for people to drop in to and say their own prayers,” said Mr Gladstone, “but, at about 9.30 p.m., we led some directed prayers to focus on the time she first disappeared. There were more than 200 people in the church at that point, along with the McCanns.”
Mr Gladstone said it was a difficult time for the McCanns, who still have no definite news of what has happened to Madeleine, despite constant speculation. “They have huge support here.”
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