Bruce Kenrick

Rev Bruce Kenrick (18 January 1920 – 15 January 2007) was an English social activist and Minister in the United Reformed Church and the Church of Scotland. He is best known for writing "Come out the Wilderness" and as the founder of British housing organisation Shelter.

Early life

Bruce Kenrick was born in Liverpool and initially trained as an accountant. World War II broke out before he turned 20, and he saw service as a medic in the Gold Coast Defence Force and with paratroopers in Italy. After the war he decided to pursue a career as a doctor. He attended the University of Edinburgh where he switched to divinity, having engaged in missionary work.

Ministry

Kenrick went to work in the East Harlem Protestant parish project, which was attached to Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. On his return to the UK he was ordained and went to work in Notting Hill, London - then an area marked by racial tension and bad landlords like Peter Rachman. He remained a significant figure on the broad left in the church, and his membership of the Iona Community and work on the example set by the revolution in Cuba helped set the direction of radical Christianity in the UK.

On 30 April 2026, Kenrick was inducted into the Charity Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026, described as the "housing reformer who brought the fight against homelessness into the national spotlight."

Personal life He met his wife Isabel Witte, an historian, while at Edinburgh. Their children included Ann Kenrick, charity leader.