Packed service lights candles for Pike River miners

Candles burn after a special service at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church. Photo / Mark Mitchell

On Saturday, Archdeacon Robin Kingston told the congregation gathered at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Greymouth: "If there's one thing we're going to need, it's strength and unity."

Yesterday, the people of Greymouth needed strength and unity even more.

A church service was held there again last night, but for the saddest of reasons.

Before the service began, 29 candles flickered on a table near the altar surrounded by many unlit candles waiting to be lit by mourning church-goers.

Soon after 7pm, people began arriving, first just one or two slowly finding seats, some hugging children close or with an arm around the person next to them.

By 7.30, the church was packed and the overflow went into the gallery upstairs.

Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn was there, Labour leader Phil Goff was there - and Pike River Coal chief executive Peter Whittall.

The Rev Marge Tefft acknowledged those at the service, whether they knew someone who had been in the mine or others who might have come because they wanted support.

She acknowledged Mr Whittall: "Peter, I've been watching you on TV and thinking, 'How can you go on?"'

Two other women, minister Thelma Efferd and lay minister Lyn Heine, led the service.

Ms Heine told the congregation they had come together to "create a space where we can acknowledge the difficulty at this time for all of us, where we can acknowledge that this is something so much bigger than anything else we have ever faced".

She explained the symbols on a table, including a bowl of salt water "to represent our tears".

"There's a paua to represent the colour that is still present in our lives."

There was also a piece of greenstone she invited people to touch. "This is a stone that wants to be touched, that responds to touching and becomes smoother as you touch it."

A message from the Pope was delivered - Benedict XVI said he shared the anxiety of the miners' families and friends and was praying for them.

After the service, Mr Whittall and others lit the candles.