The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales’ agency for education stated on Twitter, “The death of Sir David Amess is a horrific tragedy. He was an outstanding Catholic MP and a fervent supporter of Catholic education.”
“Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.”
Benedict Rogers, chief executive and cofounder of the British human rights group Hong Kong Watch, said he and Amess had “worked together regularly on international human rights over the years.”
“He was very warm, kind and fun. He was always encouraging me to stand for Parliament and tried to help me in that. He had a huge smile, great humour and a very good heart. He was a great character and will be hugely missed,” Rogers tweeted.
Amess strongly supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum.
The last British MP to be killed was Jo Cox in 2016, who was shot outside a meeting with her constituents in West Yorkshire. Cox’s sister Kim Leadbeater, Labour MP for Batley and Spen, said she was “Totally shocked by what has happened to think that something so horrific could happen again to another MP, to another family,” PA reported.
“And scared and frightened – a real rollercoaster of emotions,” Leadbeater said.
According to PA, 80 people attended a memorial service for Amess on Friday.
“He carried with him that great east London spirit of having no fear and being able to talk to people and the level they’re at. Not all politicians I would say are good at that,” Father Jeffrey Woolnough said of Amess, PA reported. “We don’t have the words tonight. Dear Sir David, rest well.”
This story was updated with new information on Friday, Oct. 15.
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