Memorial service to offer hope

A memorial service requested by the survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral six months after the deadly blaze.

It will take place on December 14 and be attended by survivors, bereaved families, members of the emergency services who responded on the night and local faith groups.

Around 1,500 free tickets will be made available for the service, which is themed around remembrance, hope and unity.

The Bishop of Kensington, the Rt Rev Dr Graham Tomlin, and the Dean and Chapter of St Paul’s agreed to host the event after it was requested during discussions.

The North Kensington community will be able to contribute to the planning of the service, which will begin at 11am.

Around 80 people are thought to have died in the fire, with its known victims ranging from a stillborn baby to an 84-year-old woman.

Shahin Sadafi, chairman of the survivors group Grenfell United, said: “Our community was devastated on June 14 2017.

“Months on, uncertainty and distress are still what we feel above anything else.

“Nothing significant has yet changed for the bereaved families and survivors of the fire.

“However, we hope that by gathering together to remember the tragedy, we can begin to heal our community with the support of the whole country.

“United together we can help light the way for what will undoubtedly be a long road ahead.”

Bishop Tomlin said hosting the service at the London cathedral would be an acknowledgement of the tragedy’s significance “both for the local community and the wider nation”.