Remembering Grenfell
Sunday 14th June was the third anniversary of the appalling fire at Grenfell Tower. Our church bells rang out 72 times at 6 O’clock in the evening to remember the 72 people who died in that dreadful fire, then there was a pause for reflection, followed 3 rings to remember that it was 3 years ago.
Lucy, who was a volunteer the morning after the fire, created this tribute at the church door with 72 night lights to remember each person who died.
In Lucy’s words “It was an incredible privilege to be invited in by a community so utterly shocked and devastated. I went to the community centre which was the support hub. I was one of the few white people there and of course many of the victims were from the BAME community. It was the first time I had experienced a situation where those directing everyone’s efforts were not white. It really reaonates in the context of the current BLM campaign. The memory that has never left me is the number of people taking “selfie” photos against the background of a smouldering, blackened block. The most terrible personification of our instagram culture. The love and dignity I witnessed at the community centre on that day was in stark contrast.”
Jeremy reflected that “It was incredibly humbling to ring the bell 72 times, to keep silence, and to ring three times for the years since the fire. Lighting the candles brought home the value of each human life, and the need to ensure that our systems and processes are just, fair, and safe for all. That’s a call for the church to hear, as we remember, and as we act.”
