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Heart and Soul: Faith in the Fire

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Faith in the Fire

11/08/2017 GMT

BBC World Service - Heart and Soul, Faith in the Fire

Religious communities of all faiths provided support and practical help at Grenfell Tower

At the Grenfell Tower fire religious communities from all faiths and denominations provided crucial pastoral support and practical help.

On the night the Grenfell Tower fire began on 14 June 2017, the mosques and churches which encircle the tower block in Kensington, West London, provided bases for vital relief work. It was Ramadan so many Muslim faithful were returning from prayers when the fire started, and they were able to alert residents and help people get out of the burning building. 
 
In the hours and days that followed, in one of the richest areas of one of the wealthiest cities in the world, people of all religions were mobilised in the crisis and came together to offer crucial pastoral support and practical help, while the authorities were accused of being slow to respond.  
 
Presenter Zubeida Malik meets the residents and religious leaders to find out what happened that night and how they continue to administer emotional support and funeral prayers in the aftermath of the tragedy.  And she asks them what kind of answers faith can provide in such a crisis.

Produced by Melissa FitzGerald.

Picture: The burnt-out remains of Grenfell Tower and a church spire, Credit: Samuel Hauenstein-Swan

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