How do Catholics respond to suffering? At All Saints Catholic College, just steps from Grenfell Tower, they have found consolation in art and creativity, which, for Stephen Bick, the school’s director of musical life, is because ‘it lifts the human heart up to God, and it also draws us together in our grief.’
This school has known its fair share of grief. With the remains of the Grenfell Tower block dominating the skyline around its area, the community continues to feel the effect of the devastating fire in June 2017 which claimed the lives of 72 people.
One student we spoke to remembers seeing the smoke coming out of the building. For another, it was the memory not being able to swim in Kensington Leisure Centre, because ‘they needed it for a home for people who had lost their homes.’
Stephen shared that he’s ‘had students throughout my entire time at All Saints who I’ve known have lost somebody in the fire.’
But as the years go by, and students who were younger at the time of the fire enter the school, the community has taken care to honour the memory of the victims. This June, the school commissioned Sir James MacMillan to compose a new communion motet, setting the ancient In Paradisum text. The piece premiered at the anniversary Mass held at Westminster Cathedral, sung by the All Saints Schola.
Stephen explains why In Paradisum spoke so powerfully to the All Saints community:
‘We know that, as Catholics, when we go to heaven, Jesus will heal all the wounds of suffering that we experienced in this life, but also that he will bring everyone to share in the riches of his Father. Those who were poor on earth will no longer be poor in heaven. And that motet really spoke to us in our situation and to the poor of Grenfell Tower. As a school we can’t get that politically involved but what we can do is come together and pray.’
Founded in 2021, the All Saints Schola rehearses every weekday morning and offers individually funded vocal scholarships by audition. For the young singers, the experience is as much spiritual as musical, drawing them into closer relationship with God. One student reflected that it had changed their faith in Jesus, and they had made lasting friendships.
When asked if they had enjoyed it, another student said, ‘I did enjoy it, but more than enjoy, it was an honour to sing and remember the people who died in the accident and the ones who are suffering.’
By encouraging the students at All Saints to sing, Stephen hopes that the students will be strengthened at times of suffering in their lives and reminded that ‘Jesus suffers alongside them and will one day, please God, welcome them into heaven.’
In singing, in creativity and in faith, All Saints Catholic College offers a living tribute to those lost at Grenfell, and a promise that beauty and hope can rise, even from the ashes of tragedy.
