BISHOP of Bangor Andy John has offered a message of hope to the family of missing April Jones.
Police have yet to find April, aged five, after she apparently entered a car near her home in Machynlleth on Monday evening.
Bishop Andy is spending today (Wednesday, October 3) in Machynlleth with Reverend Kathleen Rogers, priest-in-charge, offering support to the community, which is in his diocese.
This morning, they visited April’s school and the estate where April lives, as well as St Peter’s Church, which has set up a prayer station for people to light candles, say prayers and write messages of hope.
This afternoon they will meet the police and search and rescue teams.
Meanwhile, St Peter’s Church is planning to hold another vigil service this evening at 6pm for people to come together to pray for April and her family.
Bishop Andy said, “We may not know where five-year-old April Jones is now or what has happened to her but no-one is lost to God.
" I believe that He will be with her now, wherever she is, just as He is with us, sharing our grief and pain.
“People all over the country are now praying for April’s safe return and I hope these prays will envelop her and her family with a sense of God’s tremendous love.”
Prayers for April’s safe return, her family and all those involved in the search for her have been said this morning in St. Peter’s Church.
Many churches across the diocese, including in the Cathedral in Bangor, havealso held services this morning.
They will remain open all day for people to come and pray, light candles and write their thoughts in the book of hope.
St Mary’s church in Dolgellau also has a prayer station for April.