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Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby asks churches across England to ring bells after Notre Dame fire
13:40, 17 April 2019
updated: 13:55, 26 April 2019
Church bells will ring out across Kent in a show of solidarity after the Notre Dame fire.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has asked cathedrals and churches across England to toll their bells for seven minutes tomorrow evening as a mark of respect after the 850-year-old Paris cathedral was ravaged by a blaze.
The devastating fire on Tuesday evening brought down the roof of the Gothic building and caused its steeple to collapse.
The show of support, which has also been called for by John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, will take place at 7pm.
A number of churches across the county, including Canterbury Cathedral, Rochester Cathedral, St Botolph's in Northfleet and St Aidan's in Gravesend will take part.
The move was suggested by the British Ambassador to France, Edward Llewellyn.
The Archbishop also offered his prayers on the night of the blaze.
On Twitter, he said: "Tonight we pray for the firefighters tackling the tragic Notre Dame fire - and for everyone in France and beyond who watches and weeps for this beautiful, sacred place where millions have met with Jesus Christ. Nous sommes avec vous."
French President Emmanuel Macron has said he wants the cathedral to be rebuilt "even more beautifully" within five years.
