JohnFisher, a Liberal Democrat councillor at Staffordshire Moorlands district council, said he hoped it was not bad news for retailers in the town centre.
"All our landlords are committed to achieving a consensual solvent outcome to this process where a restructured Southern Cross emerges, " Christopher Fisher told John Humphrys.
About 120 friends, family and constituency representatives were thought to have joined the Blairs at St JohnFisher church in Sedgefield for the hour-and-a-half long service.