Praying for the ‘safe return’ of Claudia Lawrence

Dr John Sentamu told how at a recent meeting with the missing woman’s father, Peter, he asked the archbishop simply to pray for his daughter’s safe return.

Dr Sentamu said: “We will be lighting a candle of hope for Claudia in the chapel at Bishopthorpe, where prayers will be said on the hour for Claudia and her family.

“Prayers for Claudia’s safety, for those leading the investigation into her disappearance and for her to be reunited with her family will take place at Bishopthorpe Chapel hourly – prayers that will be joined by those being offered by people throughout Yorkshire and beyond who are sharing a collective hope that Claudia has not come to harm.”

A daily prayer vigil was also launched yesterday at a church near to the home of the missing 35-year-old chef.

The Rev Michael Woodmansey, of Holy Trinity Church in Heworth, said people felt prayer was the only thing they could do as the search for Claudia widens.

He said: “People are very anxious and need somewhere quiet to pray. I think people are very shocked. I went to pick up my kids from school today and someone said: ‘We don’t expect this down our quiet little road’. There are a lot of people feeling for Claudia’s parents and people are asking: ‘How would I cope?’ “We feel we are a church for the community and there is a real community need now, not only for those who pray, but we wanted to make a space for anyone to come in and spend time in silence and bring their feelings to God.”

Mr Woodmansey said he had recently spoken to Mr Lawrence, who said he was very appreciative of the prayers being said everywhere for his daughter.

“She has been in our services already, in the mid-week prayer on Wednesday, and will be in them on Sunday,” Mr Woodmansey said.

“We wanted to respond to what people say they need.

“This will be carrying on as long as it is needed and I hope there will be a positive resolution.”

A close neighbour of the missing woman was one of the first to arrive at the church yesterday to light a candle and offer a prayer.

The woman, who asked not to be named, described Claudia Lawrence as “a lovely girl” and said there was an “overwhelming feeling of sadness” over her disappearance.

“When I went into the church I started to cry,” she said.

“What else can you do but pray? It’s nice to light a candle. Everyone thinks it’s bad news, but I feel a lot more hopeful now I have been in church.

“When I was praying I felt there would be a positive outcome.”

The prayer vigils will take place every day between 4pm and 7pm, at Holy Trinity Church, in Melrosegate.