Sir David Amess MP’s funeral mass will today take place at Westminster Cathedral.

The Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, and it is where Sir David and his wife Lady Julia were married 37 years ago.

His funeral took place yesterday in St Mary’s Church in Prittlewell, Southend.

Sir David’s death at the hands of a suspected terrorist during a constituency surgery on 15 October still has “a great air of unreality about it”, his “close personal friend” and erstwhile parliamentary colleague Anne Widdecombe has said ahead of today’s service.

Ms Widdecombe told PA News earlier today: “Obviously I am feeling sad but, on the other hand, today is a great occasion to see so many people come to pay their respects to David, to celebrate his life. And what I am saying to everybody today is, look, the death was horrible, but I don’t want David for remembered how he died, I want him to be remembered for how he lived and for the causes he fought for.”

She added: “[His death] still has a great air of unreality about it – I think that’s quite inevitable if you lose a friend suddenly in terrible circumstances. We’re all asking ourselves why, I don’t think anybody can tell you why.”

The 69 year old Conservative MP for Southend West had been an MP since 1983.

He was well known for his extensive campaigning on various causes, including endometriosis research and animal welfare.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols will preside over the mass and a message from Pope Francis is set to be read out.

Sir David will be buried in a private ceremony following the service.