Graham Tomlin: How the Church sprang into action following Grenfell Tower

When the Grenfell Tower disaster struck, the Bishop of Kensington cleared his schedule to help mobilise local Christians to assist with the relief effort. One year on, he says the job is far from over

Instinct took over on the morning of 14 June 2017. After switching on the news to see Grenfell Tower engulfed in flames, Rt Rev Dr Graham Tomlin, Bishop of Kensington, recognised the significance of the moment and cancelled his plans for the day.

Britain’s worst fire in a century claimed 71 lives and left an entire community devastated. In the midst of the tragedy, local Christians responded quickly as churches of all denominations opened their doors to grieving members of the public, offering both practical and spiritual assistance. In the hours that followed, the bishop found himself counselling local residents and the emergency services. As the media machine descended he also became a spokesperson for the good work being undertaken by churches in the area. And one year on from the disaster, he's still speaking up for local people and delivering a hard hitting message about inequality, housing and the dangers of individualism.