Ann Widdecombe funeral held at Buckfast Abbey following murder

A private funeral service was held at Buckfast Abbey in Devon for former Conservative and Reform UK MP Ann Widdecombe. Approximately 100 mourners, including politicians and broadcasters, attended the 90-minute requiem mass to honor the 78-year-old, who was described by Buckfast Abbey as a “woman of profound faith” and a “dedicated public servant.”

Attendees included Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride, former Justice Minister Crispin Blunt, and broadcaster Iain Dale. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage did not attend the private service due to ongoing campaigning in Clacton, though he expressed on social media that she was an “extraordinary woman who left a serious mark on British politics.”

The service follows the investigation into Widdecombe’s death on July 8, after she was allegedly killed at her home in Haytor, Devon. Joshua Kerry, 28, has been charged with her murder. Prior to the service, police conducted searches of the abbey grounds using sniffer dogs.