St Paul’s Cathedral is to host a national memorial service for survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire and relatives of those who died on the six-month anniversary of the catastrophe, on 14 December.
A request for a service came from survivors and bereaved relatives, and 1,500 free tickets will be distributed via community and faith organisations in north Kensington.
People from a range of faith and cultural organisations will be invited, as well as emergency services personnel who attended the fire on the night of 14 June.
Grenfell United, one of the bodies representing survivors and bereaved families, and other community organisations have been invited to help plan the event, called the Grenfell Tower Memorial Service – Remembrance, Hope and Unity.
Families will be given a special email address via which they can send ideas for the service to the chapter, or governing body, of St Paul’s.
Shahin Sadafi, the chair of Grenfell United, said: “Our community was devastated on the 14 June 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.”
Graham Tomlin, the bishop of Kensington, said holding a service at St Paul’s “recognises the significance of this tragedy both for the local community and the wider nation. My hope and prayer is that it will help us remember those who lost their lives, bring comfort and strength to the bereaved and point a way to a better future.”
Up to 80 people, including at least 18 children, died when fire swept through the 24-storey tower block. Most families made homeless by the fire are still living in temporary accommodation.
