A Community in Mourning: Final journey begins for the English Family
Four coffins of Philip and Kim English and their sons, Jayden and Callum, are carried into Sacred Heart Church, The Folly, Waterford, ahead of their funeral on Monday, after they died in an arson attack on their home in Waterford.
The reception of the remains of the English family at Sacred Heart Church, The Folly, on Sunday afternoon was marked by heartbreaking scenes as a devastated community gathered to pay its respects to four lives lost in the tragic fire at Birchwood on Tuesday last, October 13.
Large crowds lined the grounds of the church as the remains of Philip English, his wife Kim English (née Companjen), and their sons Callum English (12) and Jayden English (9) arrived. A guard of honour formed by members of Johnville FC, where Callum played, stood in silence as the four coffins were carried into the church.
The four family members were formally received into the church by Parish Priest Fr Gerry Chestnutt before prayers were held. Hundreds of mourners then filed through the adjoining parish centre, where the family lay in repose, offering condolences and support to their heartbroken relatives.
The tragedy has deeply affected Waterford and beyond, with an overwhelming sense of grief evident among those gathered. Throughout the afternoon, people embraced, prayed and reflected quietly as they remembered a family described by many as kind, caring and widely loved.
The joint funeral of Philip, Kim, Callum and Jayden will take place at 1pm on Monday, October 19, in Sacred Heart Church, The Folly, followed by burial in Kilbarry Cemetery.
