Approximately 100 family members, friends, and former colleagues gathered at Buckfast Abbey in Devon to pay their final respects at the funeral of Ann Widdecombe. The former Conservative minister, who later served as a Reform UK spokeswoman, died on 8 July at the age of 78 after being discovered with serious head injuries at her residence in Haytor on Dartmoor.
The private requiem mass was held at the Catholic abbey where Widdecombe was a regular worshipper, a location she famously described as her “safe haven.” Attendees were seen wearing black as they arrived for the service, which lasted approximately 90 minutes. Security measures were evident at the site, with police officers and sniffer dogs stationed on the abbey grounds throughout the proceedings.
The service included a homily delivered by the Rt Rev David Charlesworth, the Abbot of Buckfast. Addressing the congregation, he stated: “In the midst of the shock, clamour and sometimes unwarranted comment surrounding her death, our response is to pray for the repose of her soul, to give thanks for her fortitude, and offer Holy Mass in this Abbey Church which Ann called her safe haven.”
A statement from the Abbey Church earlier noted that Widdecombe would be “missed and fondly remembered,” adding that many in their worshipping community knew her as a kind and warm character. The statement highlighted that Ann was a woman of profound faith, which she expressed through her public political career, and that she was unafraid to voice her unwavering convictions with a sharp intellect.
The order of service featured tributes paid by the Reverend Roger Widdecombe, the late MP’s nephew, and Sir Christian Sweeting, a close friend. Donations made in her memory are being divided between the Leprosy Mission and Abound, which supports the projects of the Christian Endeavour Hostel in India. A public memorial for Widdecombe is scheduled to be held later this year.
Widdecombe’s political career spanned several decades. She served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and held various ministerial roles in Sir John Major’s government during the 1990s. Following her departure from the Commons, she transitioned into media, appearing on the Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and finishing as a runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
In her later years, she returned to the political stage, representing South West England as a Member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party. In 2023, she joined Reform UK as a party spokeswoman. Her life and death have remained a subject of intense public interest, particularly following the criminal investigation into her passing.
Joshua Kerry, a 28-year-old man from South Yorkshire, was charged with her murder in July following an investigation led by counter-terrorism detectives. A provisional trial date has been listed for June 2027. Recent developments have also seen police reopen an investigation into an incident at the home of Nigel Farage, which he claims is directly linked to the murder of Ann Widdecombe.
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