Archbishop Desmond Tutu was remembered at Westminster Abbey with a Choral Evensong with Thanksgiving on Thursday 9th June.

The service was led by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle: 

'We give thanks for Desmond Tutu’s humility and humour; for his faith, and for his discipline and discernment. We remember with thanksgiving his courageous commitment to reconciliation and justice; his hope and his understanding of our freedom under God. We celebrate the good he did and the example he set before us.

As we remember him, let us remember, as he would wish, those for whom he prayed, the leaders of the nations, the poor, the fearful, the sick and those who mourn. Inspired by his life of faith, may each of us play our part as witnesses to God’s coming Kingdom.’

Lessons were read by the Reverend David Stanton, Canon-in-Residence, and Edith Slee, Founder of the Tutu Foundation UK and prayers were said by friends and family of the late Archbishop. The Reverend Nontombi Naomi Tutu, Archbishop Tutu’s daughter gave the Address. 

Following the service, Mungi Ngomane, granddaughter of Archbishop Tutu was interviewed. She described the service as having a lot of friendship, and that guests had gathered to reflect on his legacy, justice reconciliation. Mungi also explained one of the key points in the service for her was for people to ‘make his example become our practice’. 

You can watch the full interview below. 

About Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Desmond Mpilo Tutu was a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996 - the first black African to hold either position.

Archbishop Tutu visited the Abbey in 2014 to preach at a service of thanksgiving for the life of his great friend President Nelson Mandela.

Archbishop Tutu died on 26 December 2021.