MOUNT ALBION – A funeral service for a newborn found dead outside of a church here provided some closure for community members.
While many questions still surround the death of “Baby Albion,” a nickname from RCMP investigators, more than 100 individuals gathered at The Birch Hill Free Church of Scotland Saturday morning to grieve.
The baby was found wrapped in a blanket on the church grounds on April 12, close to where a burial took place following Saturday’s funeral.
Pastor Peter Aiken, who led the service, focused on the value of human life.
He said it is not defined by length or a list of accomplishments.
“We are valuable in God’s sight because he has made us and we are commissioned with the purpose of reflecting his greatness,” said Aiken, whose service also carried a theme of “not being alone.”
He said that while Baby Albion was physically alone before being found, in a higher sense the baby was also with God
He also reached out to the baby’s mother several times throughout the service, a woman who RCMP are still searching for.
“I think Baby Albion’s mother is someone who appears to be alone at this time, someone who is carrying a lot of burdens herself and someone who needs help,” said Aiken. “We wanted to speak to her and be able to tell her she’s not alone and be able to give her hope.”
During an interview after the funeral, Aiken said the event has been hard on the community.
He said the service gave people identifying with the event a chance to grieve with others.
“I think it’s been especially hard on the community, it’s also been hard dealing with this on a daily basis. Hopefully, there is going to be some closure today,” he said.
Pastor Stephen Plouffe, who preaches at the church for six months of the year, said the community has been left with many questions.
He said finding answers hasn’t been easy and wasn’t surprised that many in the community had turned to faith.
“Faith is where you find the bedrock that supports a community,” Plouffe said during an interview with The Guardian. “I think in a case like this where circumstantial answers about the event are very few and don’t really give a lot of closure, that’s when there is much deeper searching to what’s really going on and I think the message touched on that today very clearly.”
A visitation also took place before the funeral. The arrangements were provided by Hennessey Cutcliffe Charlottetown Funeral Home and Heritage Memorial.
The funeral also saw a large presence of RCMP, who are still investigating the death.
Media relations Sgt. Leanne Butler said RCMP will provide further updates but that police were not talking about the investigation on Saturday.
“Today we’re going to give the baby respect and give a final closure to the baby,” said Butler. “The members are very invested in this case, many have their own children so how could you not care.
“That’s why we participated in the funeral and we’re working very hard on the matter but hoping today puts some final rest to Baby Albion.”
MOUNT ALBION – A funeral service for a newborn found dead outside of a church here provided some closure for community members.
While many questions still surround the death of “Baby Albion,” a nickname from RCMP investigators, more than 100 individuals gathered at The Birch Hill Free Church of Scotland Saturday morning to grieve.
The baby was found wrapped in a blanket on the church grounds on April 12, close to where a burial took place following Saturday’s funeral.
Pastor Peter Aiken, who led the service, focused on the value of human life.
He said it is not defined by length or a list of accomplishments.
“We are valuable in God’s sight because he has made us and we are commissioned with the purpose of reflecting his greatness,” said Aiken, whose service also carried a theme of “not being alone.”
He said that while Baby Albion was physically alone before being found, in a higher sense the baby was also with God
He also reached out to the baby’s mother several times throughout the service, a woman who RCMP are still searching for.
“I think Baby Albion’s mother is someone who appears to be alone at this time, someone who is carrying a lot of burdens herself and someone who needs help,” said Aiken. “We wanted to speak to her and be able to tell her she’s not alone and be able to give her hope.”
During an interview after the funeral, Aiken said the event has been hard on the community.
He said the service gave people identifying with the event a chance to grieve with others.
“I think it’s been especially hard on the community, it’s also been hard dealing with this on a daily basis. Hopefully, there is going to be some closure today,” he said.
Pastor Stephen Plouffe, who preaches at the church for six months of the year, said the community has been left with many questions.
He said finding answers hasn’t been easy and wasn’t surprised that many in the community had turned to faith.
“Faith is where you find the bedrock that supports a community,” Plouffe said during an interview with The Guardian. “I think in a case like this where circumstantial answers about the event are very few and don’t really give a lot of closure, that’s when there is much deeper searching to what’s really going on and I think the message touched on that today very clearly.”
A visitation also took place before the funeral. The arrangements were provided by Hennessey Cutcliffe Charlottetown Funeral Home and Heritage Memorial.
The funeral also saw a large presence of RCMP, who are still investigating the death.
Media relations Sgt. Leanne Butler said RCMP will provide further updates but that police were not talking about the investigation on Saturday.
“Today we’re going to give the baby respect and give a final closure to the baby,” said Butler. “The members are very invested in this case, many have their own children so how could you not care.
“That’s why we participated in the funeral and we’re working very hard on the matter but hoping today puts some final rest to Baby Albion.”
