The Hillsborough tragedy will be remembered this year at a simple service held at Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral on Sunday April 15 - the 29th anniversary.

It continues the pattern of reflective annual commemorations which will alternate between the city’s two cathedrals, following the final Anfield service two years ago.

The event at the home of Liverpool FC are no longer held at the request of families belonging to the Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG), which organised it.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The new, simple service will give people a chance to continue to remember the victims of Hillsborough and pray for the families, survivors and all those affected.

It was the initiative of the Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend Paul Bayes, and the Archbishop of Liverpool, the Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon, in liaison with Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson.

The half hour service will start at 2.45pm and maintain a minute’s silence at 3.06pm. It will include prayers and time for silent reflection but will not include any sermons.

The Right Reverend Tom Williams, Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool - who in 1989 was Parish Priest of Our Lady Immaculate, St Domingo Road - will be at the service.

Bishop Williams, who has accompanied and supported the families in the years since, said: “It has been a privilege for me to journey with the families and many others affected by the tragedy.

“It is right that we should remember in a time of quiet reflection before God all who lost their lives on that day and all who grieve for them and have suffered as a result of those tragic events”.

The names of the 96 will be printed on the service sheet for private prayer and reflection. Two candles will be lit at the heart of the service – one to remember the 96 and a second for the survivors of the tragedy. And the service will be followed by a time of silence for people to be with their own sorrow and their own thoughts.

Speaking last year before the launch of the new reflective annual services, Margaret Aspinall, chair of the HFSG, told the ECHO: “While the Anfield service has now finished, at the request of the families belonging to the HFSG, who organised it, the city of Liverpool will obviously never forget the 96.

“And this annual service will give those people who wish to mark the anniversary in a formal way a chance to reflect in one of our two cathedrals. And also, of course, the city will continue to ring the bells for the 96 on each anniversary.”

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Liverpool ECHO editor Alastair Machray said: “In accord with its understated intention, the ECHO will not be covering this year’s service as a news story and will observe the same protocol in future years. We trust that all other media organisations will observe the same respectful stance.”