A service is to be held for those affected by the baby ashes scandal at Aberdeen Crematorium.
The service, hosted by Aberdeen Churches Together, will be held at the Kirk of St Nicholas from 3pm on Sunday, November 6.
The National Cremation Investigation – headed by Dame Elish Angiolini – published a damning account into practices at Aberdeen Crematorium in June, which revealed how babies had been cremated alongside unrelated adults.
The ashes were then mixed together and given back to relatives of the adult, while the parents of infants were told there were none to be had.
Dame Elish’s investigation looked at more than 200 infant cremation cases across the country following the Mortonhall baby ashes scandal in 2014.
It found that in Aberdeen it was “commonplace” to cremate infants in the same chamber as unrelated adults.
MORE: Baby Ashes Scandal: Everything you need to know… ‘Shocking, damning, abhorrent and unethical’
Aberdeen Churches Together, in association with the Council, sent letters of invitation to parents and other family members who had contacted the local authority throughout the inquiry process.
The service will be led by Rev Hugh Wallace with Rev Dr John McNeill, Rev Stephen Taylor and Health Care Chaplain Katrina Blackwood. The St Andrew’s Episcopal Church Choir will also be part of the service.
Rev Wallace said: “Each individual and family has dealt with this sadness in their own way. Sunday will be an opportunity for those who wish to come together to share in a service which we hope offers comfort during what continues to be a difficult time.”
Anyone wishing to attend, or to find out more about the support available, should contact Aberdeen Churches Together on aberdeenchurchestogether@gmail.com.
