The Venerable Tony Sadler gave a moving sermon in which he spoke of the struggle many people would have in forgiving Chris Foster.

He said: “No-one could have predicted that such a tragedy as this could happen in the depth of this beautiful Shropshire countryside.

“All those who know the family are still numb as they struggle to put out of their minds the sad events that bring us here today.

“As we remember Jill and her 15-year-old daughter Kirstie, our thoughts and our prayers surround all who mourn their loss, especially Jill’s brother Roger, Jill’s sister Ann, her husband James and their son Josh.

“Jill was born in Bilston and the family grew up in the Wolverhampton area. After early days doing secretarial work she became private secretary to the chairman of Newman and Tonks in Walsall. The family moved to this part of the countryside four years ago and they loved being here.

“Jill and Christopher’s daughter, Kirstie, loved horses. She rode since she was an eight-year- old child. She was good at it too, both caring for her animals and showing them and winning many rosettes.

“She enjoyed school at Ellesmere College where she was working towards her GCSEs. She was a popular girl enjoying her hockey, tennis and anything equestrian.

“Kirstie had recently discovered on the internet the Equestrian College, at Gloucester University, and was intent on going there.

“With Kirstie’s love of horses in mind, the family have asked that any gifts in memory of the family should go to a trust that they are setting up – The Kirstie Foster Trust to Assist Riding for the Disabled.

“We remember Kirstie’s friends from school. For many this will be their first experience of bereavement. It is a hard lesson to learn at any time but particularly at an early age.

“The whole of the family were devoted to their horses and other animals.

“The sadness of these latest events must not diminish the happiness of their earlier lives together. I’ve heard the story of Jill’s fishing success off the coast of Mauritius. There were clearly many happy times together and we give thanks to God for them and for all that was good in their lives.

“But now for ourselves. We are sad and we are hurting. Part of the pain is caused by our realising that young lives have been cut short before their time. More so, I believe the hurt comes as a result of our extreme difficulty in finding forgiveness in our hearts for what has happened.

“As Christians we are required to forgive – but for many at the moment, that is a step too far – the wounds are too raw. Even if we spoke words of forgiveness with our lips, they would be shallow and meaningless.

“Those words in Our Lord’s prayer are difficult to say with sincerity at the moment: ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us’ – that is what Our Lord asks us to pray.

“It’s hard for the timebeing – and no-one is going to point the finger and say you must do it.

“Many make the intellectual decision to forgive before they have forgiven them in their hearts. True forgiveness cannot be rushed. Living with unforgiveness may be the honest thing to do for the moment.

“One of the things that has helped me to cope with unforgiveness in the past – is to realise that I have been totally forgiven by Almighty God for those things in my own life of which I am ashamed.

“It is not a matter of words of the lips – or even an act of the will. All that does is to suppress resentments and bitterness below the level off the conscious from which they burst out with renewed virulence.

“Forgiveness must come from the heart – from a heart that is thankful for having been forgiven, oneself. Our own acceptance by God in spite of our unacceptability can remove the blockage. If you know you have been totally forgiven by God himself it is hard not to be totally forgiving of another.

“There can be no more reassuring words than those spoken by Jesus on the cross, when he looks down on those who have just put him there.

“He says: ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’

“It is a hard lesson and one that the world finds difficult to take on board. One is full of admiration for those who can do it. It takes time – especially when the wounds are raw.

“In fact, it is too big a task to undertake on our own. We need God’s help even to point us in the right direction and take the first steps towards forgiveness. I think this is the only way to overcome our hurting.

“Unfortunately, being unforgiving changes our lives – it makes us resentful, and bitter.

“I didn’t know Jill and Kirstie personally but it may just be that they will want to forgive Christopher for themselves – and they will want you to be forgiving, too.

“So, we thank God for all that was good in Jill and Kirstie’s life – and there was much to be thankful for. Each of you will have your special memories of being with them. Give thanks for those times.

“Many of those occasions will also have been shared with Christopher. We remember him too and his mother Enid and his brother Andrew and his family as they mourn his loss. We commend them all to your prayers and to God’s mercy and love now and always.”