Beverley Savage at the service in Bicester's church of the Immaculate Conception Thousands of people across Oxfordshire have been paying their respects to the Pope at services, while others watched the funeral today on television.

Twice as many worshippers as usual went to morning mass at The Oratory, the Catholic Church of St Aloysius Gonzaga in Woodstock Road, Oxford, today (Friday) to include John Paul II in their prayers.

The church was packed to capacity on Tuesday (April 5) when 350 people gathered for a solemn requiem mass following the Pontiff's death last weekend.

Today, some 40 people marked the historic event by celebrating the 7.30am mass taken by parish priest Father Richard Duffield, with the Holy Father foremost in their minds.

Veronica Smith, from the village of Oddington near Kidlington, said: "I came to show that I love the Pope and that I'm with him in spirit, as I have been since the day he was elected."

John Lynam and his wife Jeanne, from north Oxford, said simply: "A very sad day, but very wonderful as well."

Leo Curran, another regular worshipper at The Oratory, also from north Oxford, added: "It's terribly sad, but also a day of great rejoicing."

German Lleao said: "In a way I don't feel sad for the Pope because he's in God's hands now. I just hope all goes well for the Church, and I hope the Cardinals choose a good Pope who will carry on the teachings of the Holy Father."

A University research post-graduate, who only gave his name as Stefano, said: "It's definitely a day for thanksgiving for the life of the Pope who has given us such an example, and he would like us to give thanks to the Lord."

One of eight priests at The Oratory, Father Richard said that instead of the traditional black vestments, he would be wearing red, the colour which is customary for the Pope, and signifies the Holy Spirit. A shrine to Pope John Paul II stood before the altar, bearing his portrait and the Papal flag, and flanked by candles and flowers.

Of the Pope's last days, Father Richard said: "It was the greatest witness he gave in the way he died. He was fearless in the face of every enemy, including death.

"There's never been a funeral as big as this in history. My parishioners accepted that his death was inevitable.

"A lot of my people are converts and became Catholics during this Pontificate because of his strong stand. People like a strong Church -- it gives them confidence."

Later, Father Richard read the parable of the loaves and fishes from the Gospels, and told the congregation that as Jesus had fed the multitude, so had Pope John Paul "fed us as Supreme Pontiff in very much the same spirit.

"He took the truths of faith and proclaimed them to the world. He was an actor who proclaimed the message on a global stage.

"This is an opportunity to reflect what his ministry has meant to us. We have seen a growth in our congregation, and this is due to the clarity of his teachings.

"Now we trust he has gone to his eternal reward, and we give thanks for his life and his soul."

Catholics in Bicester gathered at the Church of the Immaculate Conception for a special requiem mass.

Beverley Savage, who had come from Brackley, said his death had taken her by surprise, adding: "I felt as though I had lost a member of my family."

Lily Thompson, who lives in Bicester, described John Paul II as a "marvellous Pope", adding: "I rank him with St Peter, the things he did."

Others had personal memories of the Pope. Nancy Ward, from King's End in Bicester, described how she and her daughter had the privilege of singing in a choir during his visit to England. Resident in Bicester for 50 years, Stanley Pachowski originates from Poland, the Pope's homeland.

He had also seen him during a visit to Coventry. Mr Pachowski said: "I had the pleasure of seeing him three times as he walked past. I am very proud of him. He was an excellent Pope."

Father Paul Martin said the service was a sign of the lasting affection that people have for the Pope. He added: "For a lot of our young people, they have never known another Pope. We shall all miss him very much."

Worshippers gathered at St John Vianney Catholic Church in Wantage this morning to pray for Pope John Paul II at a requiem mass led by Canon Peter Turbitt.

Pensioner Moira Foxon, from Wantage, said: "It's a special day and a sad day because he has been such a splendid Pope. We hope he has eternal rest."

Ruth Coyne, 73, from Stanford in the Vale, added: "We were all very attached to him -- he was our Holy Father, but he had been ill for a long time.

"He was the best Pope for a very long time. He tried to meet everybody and the young people loved him as well."

One Polish member of the congregation also handed in flowers with a card bearing the Pope's Polish name. Canon Turbitt said: "There were hundreds at mass on Sunday, but it was a quieter service today because it is a working day.

"The Pope was a great man, but he was a child of God and we are asking for God's mercy for him."

The mass included the hymn The Lord Is My Shepherd and a hymn to Mary, mother of God.

At the English Martyrs' Roman Catholic Church in Didcot an altar was created in celebration of Pope John Paul II's life.

Parishioner Ann O'Brien said: "Pope John Paul II was brave and courageous, much-admired and a powerful and influential figure in the world."

About 150 people attended a requiem mass at the church last night (April 7) led by Father Bob Jennings.

"People were sad, and thankful I think that the Pope's suffering was at an end," he said.

There will be a requiem mass at St Edmund's church in Radley Road, Abingdon, tonight (April 8) at 7pm, led by Father Monsignor John Nelson. He expected more than 150 worshippers to attend.

Fr Nelson said there had been a mixture of emotions at the passing of Pope John Paul -- sadness, but relief that his visible suffering had ended. Fr Nelson said prayers were being offered in grateful thanks to John Paul's leadership.

He added: "For 26 years John Paul led the church and many knew no other Pope. He will be a hard act to follow. There is no firm favourite to succeed him.

"I think it will take the 117 cardinals in the conclave who elect a successor a long time to appoint the new Pope. Whoever succeeds Pope John Paul will have a huge challenge ahead of him because he was such a strong character." At the tiny church of St John the Evangelist in Market Place, Wallingford, Fr Donal O'Brien held a requiem mass this morning which was attended by about 40 people.

Fr O'Brien said: "Many people will have been at home watching the Pope's funeral service on television, so I was not surprised at the number in church.

"The Pope was a remarkable man who touched people all over the world, no matter what their faith or lack of it."

The temporary closure of Witney's Catholic church, Our Lady's and St Hugh's, has seen local people attending masses at the community hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School.

Ted Cooper, of Apley Way, Witney, said the local Roman Catholic community had been attending the masses every day.

He said: "Catholics feel he's done a great deal not only for the Christian world, but for the world in general."

Former RAF serviceman Joe Walcott, of Carterton, said: "I've lived through two other Popes and he was different -- you could even say he was the people's Pope. The rest of them lived in the palace, but he travelled the world."