THE Bishop of Truro had a busy day in West Cornwall on Wednesday [October 29], when he prayed for healing and justice for Grenfell in Mousehole and blessed a historic ship in Newlyn.

More than 30 people gathered on Mousehole’s Grenfell Street to hear the Bishop lead a deeply moving time of prayer. Organised by the Grenfell respite charity Cornwall Hugs, the gathering marked just over 100 months since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, which claimed 72 lives on June 14, 2017.

Volunteers, donors, local firefighters and community members wore green scarves of solidarity and the green Grenfell heart, mirroring the special Grenfell Street sign unveiled in 2019 by children who survived the disaster.

During the short service, the names of those who died - including 18 children - were read aloud by Cornwall Hugs volunteers with the echoing response: “Forever in our hearts". There followed a 72-second silence before Bishop David prayed for healing, unity and justice.

Bereaved survivor Hanan Wahabi, who lost her brother’s entire family in the fire, said: “Knowing our story hasn’t been forgotten, especially in a place that opened its arms to us so early on, is deeply moving. Seeing everyone praying together and reading the names beneath the Grenfell Street plaque really touched me. I’m so grateful to everyone who took part and helped keep that spirit of remembrance alive.”

Cornwall Hugs’ founder and chair, Esmé Page, described Bishop David’s prayers as continuing "unbroken threads of prayer and practical help, woven across Cornwall since the morning we all awoke to those horrific scenes ”. She added: “More than 9,000 tall buildings are still clothed in flammable cladding and we want to publicly support their fight for justice and change.”

The Cornish Maritime Trust (CMT) invited Bishop David to Newlyn’s Old Quay to bless the 144-year-old Cornish lady Barnabas, one of just four operational ships recently awarded Flagships status by National Historic Ships UK.

Speaking to an audience of more than 30 volunteers and community members gathered around and aboard Barnabas, Bishop David said: “I’ve always loved the name Barnabas — it means ‘son of encouragement’.”

He gave thanks for the men of faith who first built and fished with her, and for the imagination, craftsmanship and seamanship of those who have sailed and preserved her across three centuries — now including many women, such as Sharon Stevens, descendant of the ship’s first owner and namesake, Barnabas Thomas.

After the blessing, the group retired to the cosy Fisherman’s Rest for home-made cream teas. Bishop David spent time chatting enthusiastically with trustees, including shipwright Dave Need and skipper Rob McDowell, and learned about the trust’s ambitious plans to transform the Fisherman’s Rest into an educational centre for heritage sailing. A keen sailor, he promised to return for his own adventure on board.

Trust patron Lady Bolitho said: “It was a real pleasure to be able to show Bishop David something of the brilliant work of the Cornwall Maritime Trust, allow him to meet some of those involved and to give the trust some well-deserved publicity.”