0:00:04 > 0:00:06I'm at Southwark Cathedral, next to London Bridge.
0:00:06 > 0:00:07A proudly inclusive church,
0:00:07 > 0:00:10where people of many different cultures worship together.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13Now, after the recent tragic events,
0:00:13 > 0:00:17Songs Of Praise is here to celebrate the spirit of love, light and unity,
0:00:17 > 0:00:19which is helping our communities recover.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46This week, I'm with Christians
0:00:46 > 0:00:49helping residents of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52- This IS church.- It IS church. - This is DOING church.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56Josie d'Arby meets the Church of England's youngest black vicar,
0:00:56 > 0:00:58who has a positive message of change.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Put the knives down, put the guns down
0:01:00 > 0:01:03and create a better future for everybody else.
0:01:03 > 0:01:04And how The Salvation Army
0:01:04 > 0:01:07supports our emergency services in testing times.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10I like it because it's Christianity with the sleeves rolled up.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21In a show of togetherness, people of different faiths
0:01:21 > 0:01:24have gathered here at Southwark Cathedral.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26And we begin with a hymn which expresses
0:01:26 > 0:01:29a profound sense of hope in God.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Southwark Cathedral sits right next to Borough Market,
0:03:55 > 0:03:59and both were closed for a week after the terrorist attack here.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01But since then, the Dean of the Cathedral,
0:04:01 > 0:04:02the Very Reverend Andrew Nunn,
0:04:02 > 0:04:06has felt a new sense of unity in this neighbourhood.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11We've been here kind of around about 1,400 years.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13The market's been here 1,000 years.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17And so the attack on the community felt very much like an attack on
0:04:17 > 0:04:21what has been established here,
0:04:21 > 0:04:25but with deep roots, you know, Aled? Deep roots.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28But a tremendously positive thing
0:04:28 > 0:04:30has come out of what was so negative.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32The relationships here.
0:04:32 > 0:04:33We knew the landlord,
0:04:33 > 0:04:36but we didn't know the landlord as we now know the landlord.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39When the Archbishop of Canterbury came,
0:04:39 > 0:04:43he said that one of the kind of unwitting consequences
0:04:43 > 0:04:48of the terrorist action was to actually strengthen the community.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50That actually, the goodness of people
0:04:50 > 0:04:53- is so much stronger than any amount of evil.- Mm-hm.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56And that is a real thing of hope for me.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59I knew it, but I now know it more.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01Shall we go and take a little walk through the market?
0:05:01 > 0:05:04- That would be fantastic.- Come on.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11- So many different cultures, so many different faiths.- That's right.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Did you find that all faiths pulled together after the incident?
0:05:14 > 0:05:17It was really interesting how that worked.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21Because a young Muslim guy from the parish,
0:05:21 > 0:05:26he texted me and said he couldn't go home, could he come to me?
0:05:26 > 0:05:29- So he ended up staying in the deanery that evening.- Gosh.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33And then, on the back of that, we've had 100 imams
0:05:33 > 0:05:35and Muslim scholars on London Bridge.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38We were praying together and witnessing to what we share.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41And then, on the first Friday after the attack,
0:05:41 > 0:05:45I was invited to go and speak during Friday prayers at our local mosque.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47- Gosh.- Yeah.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50It was the greatest privilege, really, to be able to speak
0:05:50 > 0:05:54to those people and just say about our shared humanity.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56What did you say, good will always win?
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Good will ALWAYS win, Aled.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07The market was packed. Good to see that your cathedral's busy, as well.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09Yeah. Lots of people come here
0:06:09 > 0:06:12and find something that's peaceful.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14An oasis, a place to pray.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17The values that we seek to live by are those of inclusion,
0:06:17 > 0:06:22of welcome, where diversity is not tolerated, but celebrated.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26- Mm-hm.- And I think it's only through those kind of values
0:06:26 > 0:06:28which we try to live out day by day,
0:06:28 > 0:06:30that good things can happen.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34That we recognise every person around us as our neighbour.
0:07:59 > 0:08:00BIRDSONG
0:08:02 > 0:08:05What happened at Grenfell Tower on 14th June,
0:08:05 > 0:08:10as you can see behind me, led to devastation on an enormous scale.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12One of the many organisations here doing their bit
0:08:12 > 0:08:16to try and help the healing process is the Tabernacle Church.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21- Hi.- How are you?- Very well, thank you.- Very nice to see you.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23VOICEOVER: I joined Pastor Derrick Wilson
0:08:23 > 0:08:25and his team of volunteers for a day,
0:08:25 > 0:08:27to see how they've transformed their church
0:08:27 > 0:08:29into a distribution centre
0:08:29 > 0:08:32for survivors of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36So we've got clothes, we've got bedding,
0:08:36 > 0:08:38we've got toiletries, baby foods.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40So what happens when this is a church,
0:08:40 > 0:08:42do people just sit on the floor, or...?
0:08:42 > 0:08:44If you're up there doing your bit,
0:08:44 > 0:08:46am I having to look over clothes rails to see you?
0:08:46 > 0:08:48We just take these rails
0:08:48 > 0:08:50across the road,
0:08:50 > 0:08:54and we put back out the chairs on Sunday morning and we have church.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58- Wow!- Well, this IS church. - It IS church.- This is DOING church.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00- Real-life church. - That's right. Absolutely.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Every day, there's a buzz of activity.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06The church team head out to deliver goods
0:09:06 > 0:09:08to former Grenfell Tower residents.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12And back at base, I'm meeting one of the volunteers, Charlie.
0:09:12 > 0:09:13She commutes here from Essex
0:09:13 > 0:09:16and has more reasons than most to be involved.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20Well, I had a fire about ten years ago and I lost my home,
0:09:20 > 0:09:22so I wanted to put something back.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24- How lovely.- People helped me.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26What's it been like being here?
0:09:26 > 0:09:29It's been emotional, yeah.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31It's been tough, but it's been worth it.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Because these people have lost everything
0:09:33 > 0:09:35and I think it's the least we can do.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39- And we've just all come together just for the one reason.- Yeah.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42- To help.- You don't go to this church normally?
0:09:42 > 0:09:44No, but I've started. I've come back to church.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46- Have you really? - Yeah. I come to the service
0:09:46 > 0:09:49- and it spurred me to carry on, so... - Amazing!
0:09:50 > 0:09:54One of the former residents of Grenfell Tower is Luca.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56He survived the fire, but has lost everything
0:09:56 > 0:09:59and is now being helped by the Tabernacle.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03- It's good to have places like this. - Absolutely.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05And do you have a faith yourself?
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Hm.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14I probably do, yeah.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16Why do you say "probably"?
0:10:16 > 0:10:21Because at this moment, I really don't know who to trust or not.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24This makes it a little bit easier, you know,
0:10:24 > 0:10:26places like this church, and some other places
0:10:26 > 0:10:30makes our position and our situation,
0:10:30 > 0:10:32which we're in right now, a bit easier.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35And thanks... Thank you, thank...
0:10:35 > 0:10:40I would like to thank all of them that try to do as much as they can.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46There are a lot of scared people here, in this community now.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51There is, yeah. There is. Um...
0:10:51 > 0:10:54Can you see a light at the end of the tunnel
0:10:54 > 0:10:55at this moment in time?
0:10:55 > 0:10:57It's far away.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00I hope there is a light, but it's far away.
0:11:02 > 0:11:03What gives you that hope?
0:11:03 > 0:11:07What gives you that, um...the energy to keep on going?
0:11:07 > 0:11:11Unfortunately, this is not my first time to get through this situation.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13So I've got a few times through
0:11:13 > 0:11:16and I hope I will get this time, as well.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21- I hope so, too. Thank you so much for talking to me.- Thank you.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00The first responders at major incidents
0:15:00 > 0:15:02like the one here at Borough Market -
0:15:02 > 0:15:05those who run towards danger - include The Salvation Army.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Founded back in 1865,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11their Christian mission to serve the community involves supporting
0:15:11 > 0:15:13the emergency services.
0:15:13 > 0:15:14Josie d'Arby has been to Bury
0:15:14 > 0:15:17to see how they prepare for this emotionally-demanding work.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Now, this is only a reconstruction,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29but it's one of the very realistic training exercises
0:15:29 > 0:15:33for fire officers from across the country.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37Also arriving on the scene is a unit from The Salvation Army,
0:15:37 > 0:15:41providing essential support and backup to the emergency officers.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Husband and wife team
0:15:43 > 0:15:46Majors Nigel and Sue Tansley are manning the van.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Five minutes, the water will be boiled.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50We can put a list of what we've used for today.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52Great. I'll take this down, then.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56The guys are working hard, they become dehydrated.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58We're providing tea, coffee and basic foods for them,
0:15:58 > 0:16:00just to keep them physically going.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03But more than that, it's a case of relaxation.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05It's normalising a very difficult situation for them.
0:16:05 > 0:16:06And just those 10-15 minutes
0:16:06 > 0:16:08when they're away from away from work
0:16:08 > 0:16:11means they can reset their minds, get things back into perspective.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17Over the years, we've attended fires, floods, all sorts of things.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21I like it because it's Christianity with the sleeves rolled up.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23And we're just there for people when they need us.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27They turn up in the middle of the night, provide us
0:16:27 > 0:16:31with welcome brews, and they've always got a smile on their face.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35- It's as important as the stuff we're doing.- If not more.- Yeah.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37They actually provide a service if you need to go
0:16:37 > 0:16:39and talk to somebody or get something off your chest.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42It gives us that boost of energy that we need to keep going.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44They're lovely people.
0:16:45 > 0:16:50For over 150 years, The Salvation Army, founded in London
0:16:50 > 0:16:54by William Booth, have loved their neighbours as themselves.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57It was in the 1970s they first partnered
0:16:57 > 0:16:59with fire and rescue teams.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01And at the scene of the recent Manchester attack,
0:17:01 > 0:17:06they provided support to senior fire officer Ben Levy.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08I was located at one of the rendezvous points,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11alongside The Salvation Army for much of that evening, actually.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Their faith is very much a comfort to me.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18It's very clear, the passion that The Salvation Army show.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21And they will do this regardless of any perceived faith
0:17:21 > 0:17:24that they have of their firefighters that they help.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26And they're there for every single one of us.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Well, it's several hours into the day now
0:17:31 > 0:17:35and the operation has moved into the rescue phase.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37In real life, however long it goes on,
0:17:37 > 0:17:40The Salvation Army will stay here, too.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45It's trying to bring something of the love of Jesus,
0:17:45 > 0:17:48the peace of Jesus, the power of Jesus,
0:17:48 > 0:17:50into a very, very abnormal situation.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53And if it's making them a cup of tea, I'll make them a cup of tea.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55If it's listening to their problems
0:17:55 > 0:17:57and the things that they've seen, I'll do that.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00Showing Jesus to the people in what you do.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03And sometimes, maybe that's all they see of Jesus.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05And if that's what they see, a cup of tea,
0:18:05 > 0:18:07and it reminds them that God loves them, that's brilliant.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13That theme of love and service is reflected in our next piece of music,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16and it's sung by Southwark Cathedral's Merbecke Choir.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03That beautiful anthem, Ubi Caritas,
0:21:03 > 0:21:05performed here at Southwark Cathedral,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08reflects the words inspired by the Bible,
0:21:08 > 0:21:11"Where there is love, there also is God".
0:21:11 > 0:21:13Well, our next hymn, written 400 miles away
0:21:13 > 0:21:15in the Iona Community in Scotland,
0:21:15 > 0:21:19speaks of the healing and hope that emerges when people unite.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34For generations, the resilience of Londoners has been tested,
0:24:34 > 0:24:39and they've always come through, however tough the tragedy.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Josie has been to Harlesden in North West London
0:24:41 > 0:24:45to meet one young man who embodies a spirit of hope for the future.
0:24:47 > 0:24:48What's the area like to live in?
0:24:48 > 0:24:52Yeah, you know, Harlesden's a very multicultural area.
0:24:53 > 0:24:58It has had a negative reputation in the past,
0:24:58 > 0:25:02- but I think every negative area has something good to offer.- Absolutely.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05What were YOU like, then, as a child growing up around here and a young man?
0:25:05 > 0:25:07As a teenager, I used to go clubbing,
0:25:07 > 0:25:10raving and started drinking alcohol.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14And at the same time, I would still be going to church,
0:25:14 > 0:25:18so I kind of felt like I had one foot in the church
0:25:18 > 0:25:21- and one foot in the rave, sort of thing.- Yeah.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25It all kind of came to a standpoint for me
0:25:25 > 0:25:29when I had my first child, I was expecting my first child.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33So that's when I just thought, just forget all this raving
0:25:33 > 0:25:37and nightclub and getting drunk, coming home late.
0:25:37 > 0:25:38Let me just try and be responsible
0:25:38 > 0:25:40and take my Christianity more seriously.
0:25:43 > 0:25:44After getting his life back on track,
0:25:44 > 0:25:48David spent five years studying at college.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50And today, he is the Reverend David,
0:25:50 > 0:25:53and taking his first ever communion service
0:25:53 > 0:25:57as the UK's youngest black Church of England priest.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03And in the dream, I was so happy in the dream!
0:26:03 > 0:26:07Like how I feel right now! Amen!
0:26:07 > 0:26:09David brings to his church sermons
0:26:09 > 0:26:12the infectious humour he's always had.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16It's a moment of joy for his friends and family.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19And some fresh Nike trainers!
0:26:19 > 0:26:23And I was looking all swagalicious!
0:26:23 > 0:26:25CONGREGATION CHUCKLE
0:26:25 > 0:26:28It brings tears to the eyes, joy to the heart.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32It's not just him being a priest,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35it's him being given a job by God.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42It's been a journey.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45As David's mum, I watched him grow.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Of course, he made his mistakes,
0:26:47 > 0:26:53however, he did not go too far before God pulled him back.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56He is so inspiring.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59I have fallen in love with Jesus!
0:27:01 > 0:27:03And it would be nice to see him become a bishop one day,
0:27:03 > 0:27:05I think that would be really cool.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07Because our grandfather was an archdeacon,
0:27:07 > 0:27:11so it would be nice to see David kind of surpass that.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15Growing up in Stonebridge wasn't easy.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19And I remember getting into a fight just across the road,
0:27:19 > 0:27:23and a young man pulled out a knife and tried to stab me.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26So, um...when I look back at that,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29I just think to myself, I could've been in the papers
0:27:29 > 0:27:33for a different reason, other than being a priest.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36So, you know, I'm just thankful to God
0:27:36 > 0:27:39that he gave me an opportunity
0:27:39 > 0:27:41to inspire other young black men
0:27:41 > 0:27:43to put the knives down, put the guns down
0:27:43 > 0:27:46and just to do something positive
0:27:46 > 0:27:50so that we can create a better future for everybody else.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54We know the world is not a perfect place and it needs a lot of healing.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57What would your prayer be at the time we're in now?
0:27:57 > 0:28:01I just pray that God will just protect London
0:28:01 > 0:28:05and just give the world the peace that passes all understanding.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08You know, when human beings have run out of answers
0:28:08 > 0:28:11and explanations as to why there's so much evil,
0:28:11 > 0:28:15you just have to look to that higher good and that higher power.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18- In Jesus Christ our Lord. - CONGREGATION: Amen.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23We wish the Reverend David Nwogbe well in his new ministry.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26And we're going to continue the theme of optimism now
0:28:26 > 0:28:28and our next very special performance.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31Joined by the Parrs Wood High School Choir from Manchester,
0:28:31 > 0:28:34Katherine Jenkins sings an anthem which raises hope the world over.
0:28:45 > 0:28:49# When you walk through a storm
0:28:49 > 0:28:53# Hold your head up high
0:28:53 > 0:29:02# And don't be afraid of the dark
0:29:02 > 0:29:10# At the end of the storm is a golden sky
0:29:10 > 0:29:19# And the sweet, silver song of a lark
0:29:19 > 0:29:24# Walk on through the wind
0:29:24 > 0:29:28# Walk on through the rain
0:29:28 > 0:29:36# Though your dreams be tossed and blown
0:29:37 > 0:29:41- ALL:- # Walk on, walk on
0:29:41 > 0:29:45# With hope in your heart
0:29:45 > 0:29:54# And you'll never walk alone
0:29:54 > 0:30:02# You'll never walk alone
0:30:03 > 0:30:06- # Walk on - # Walk on
0:30:06 > 0:30:08- # Walk on - # Walk on
0:30:08 > 0:30:12# With hope in your heart
0:30:12 > 0:30:20# And you'll never walk alone
0:30:20 > 0:30:27# You'll never walk alone
0:30:33 > 0:30:38# Alone. #
0:30:47 > 0:30:52Not all of us are able to offer practical help in times of tragedy,
0:30:52 > 0:30:55but just as this wall near Grenfell Tower shows us,
0:30:55 > 0:30:57each of us can have a voice through prayer.
0:30:59 > 0:31:03For the youth of our nation, bring light.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06For the people who serve our nation...
0:31:06 > 0:31:08..bring love.
0:31:09 > 0:31:13For those who hurt in our nation, bring healing.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16For your love never fails.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20And through the darkness, your light always shines.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22Amen.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28Next week, Claire McCollum is on the Wirral
0:31:28 > 0:31:31visiting the idyllic village of Port Sunlight,
0:31:31 > 0:31:34built by the Christian entrepreneur, William Lever,
0:31:34 > 0:31:35for his factory workers.
0:31:35 > 0:31:40And 13-year-old Beau Dermott sings Tears In Heaven.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45And now, we return to Southwark Cathedral for our final hymn.