Church of England will be given training in how to cope with the aftermath of a terror attack and disasters such as the Grenfell Tower fire.

A new project led by the University of Exeter aims to help vicars explore how 'tragic events [can] be related to the narratives of Christian Scripture and doctrine' amid warnings that tragedy and shock can lead to people abandoning the ministry.

The programme, Tragedy and Congregations, held its first session with curates in the Diocese of Exeter last month after being set up before the three terror attacks on London Bridge, Westminster and Manchester this year, according to the Telegraph.

It will help church leaders to think how 'the resources of lament and psalmody be deployed in tragic situations'.

The project director Dr Christopher Southgate told the BBC's Sunday programme: 'People often have to find their own systems of support. It needs to include trained and qualified people like a supervisor, a spiritual director and so on.

'Sometimes clergy can operate in reflective practice groups where they support one another but these mechanisms are only gradually becoming part of clergy life.'

It comes after a number of churches were caught in terror attacks. Southwark Cathedral remained shut for more than a week following the London Bridge attack after police broke down the doors moments after the incident looking for terrorists.

St Dionis Parsons Green sheltered panic stricken commuters after a makeshift bomb failed to explode properly at Parsons Green tube station and St Clement's, Notting Dale, was the focus of community support following the Grenfell Tower fire.