A vicar was left “broken” this morning after a massive fire destroyed her north London church, which was described as a “architectural treasure” with magnificent mosaics, leaving it gutted and burnt when the roof collapsed.
Since 2015, Kate Harrison has served as the vicar of St. Mark’s Church. On Friday morning, she wrote a tragic message on Twitter, simply stating, ‘I’m broken.’ She also requested prayers for her neighborhood, stating that the structure is “horrendously damaged.”
Dozens of firefighters battled the incident at the Grade II-listed structure with a literary and educational past.
After being notified of the fire at 11:19 p.m., the London Fire Brigade (LFB) dispatched approximately 80 firemen to the church on Hamilton Terrace in St. John’s Wood.
The entire church was consumed by flames, entirely demolishing the roof of the Grade II-listed structure.
Friday morning helicopter photographs revealed that the interior of the church was completely destroyed as the roof collapsed and flames devoured the entire structure.
The entire two-story building was ablaze, and inhabitants were advised to keep their doors and windows shut due to the substantial amount of smoke being produced.
The LFB stated that it was employing three ladders, including the 210-foot-tall ladder that is the tallest in Europe, as water distribution towers.
The footage from the scene shows flames erupting from the church’s windows and devouring the entire structure.
Witnesses characterized the fire as “terrible” and were devastated by the extensive destruction.
The fire was contained at 2:22 a.m. on Friday.
If you’ve seen the news regarding the fire at our church, be assured that everyone is safe.
The church building has suffered catastrophic damage. If it is your practice, please pray for the local community.
“So many people, not just the congregation, will feel sad.”
Online, members of the local community and former visitors to the cathedral expressed astonishment and despair, with some claiming to be “speechless”
Kate Harrison, the vicar, described herself as “broken” after the fire nearly totally destroyed her church on Thursday night.
The stone framework of the church is still standing, albeit scorched, but everything else is believed to have been destroyed.
Firefighters stayed on the scene until Friday early, continuing to extinguish flames and ensuring the blaze was entirely extinguished.
Candlesticks were among the surprisingly undamaged objects rescued by firefighters early Friday morning.
After the horrific fire, nothing was left but shattered windows and doors surrounded by burned shards of wreckage.
People move the few belongings that escaped the fire at the church away from the area.
This morning, as London awoke, firefighters were still working tirelessly at the scene.
Friday morning images began to reveal the depth of the damage, with the windows of the church completely smashed.
This morning, smoke persisted at the scene of a fire at St. Mark’s Church in Hamilton Terrace, St. John’s Wood.
The 177-year-old church’s charred ruins were still burning on Friday morning as the inquiry into the fire’s cause began.
Shohaib Shah, a local resident, was ‘devastated’ to see the church burn on Thursday evening, and he added that it will be ‘greatly missed by the community’
I believed a family member may have burned something while cooking… The 21-year-old claimed, “When I looked outside, I saw a large amount of smoke covering the street, an orange light in the sky, and emergency services approaching Abercorn Place.”
“When I arrived at 12:22 a.m., the fire was raging, and I could tell it wouldn’t be extinguished any time soon because it appeared to be reigniting every few minutes.
“I’m heartbroken; I recall seeing children and families entering, and during the summer, families sitting and relaxing in the gardens; it will be sorely missed in the community.”
The precise extent of the damage is unknown, although it is believed to be significant. Images from the scene reveal that the entire roof and several windows have been demolished, with the interior believed to be gutted.
Photographs revealed shattered doors and heaps of burnt debris, with the church’s facade covered in soot.
At this time, no casualties have been recorded and the specific source of the incident is unknown.
Due to the severity of the fire, the police also responded and set up a large cordon.
By 10 a.m. on Friday, firemen were spotted removing the few belongings from the building that had escaped the flames.
The National Churches Trust referred to the church as a “architectural treasure” and it had renowned mosaics.
As the tower caught fire, smoke and flames could be seen pouring into the sky, while scores of firefighters battled the blaze.
Twelve fire engines and approximately eighty firefighters were dispatched to combat the blaze, which was contained three hours later.
Due to the volume of smoke emanating from the flames, residents were instructed to keep their doors and windows locked overnight.
The church was consecrated in June 1847, and according to reports, it has a “history of education and literary associations”
Even the church tower was completely consumed by flames early on Friday morning.
North Kensington, Paddington, West Hampstead, and adjacent fire stations have dispatched personnel to the location.
St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music, is depicted in one of the church’s breathtaking mosaics. Unknown whether any of the mosaics survive
A local resident characterized the fire as “terrible,” saying that the church is “extremely old” and is now “destruction.”
A local resident told the BBC, “It’s terrible, the entire church was engulfed in flames, and smoke was everywhere.” It’s a tragedy that such an ancient church has been destroyed.’
St Andrew’s Church in Hampstead, London, posted online condolences for the St Mark’s community: ‘Our prayers and condolences for the congregation and priests of St Mark’s, as well as for all the fire crews responding to this terrible blaze.’
The National Churches Trust classifies St. Mark’s as a grade II Victorian church with “stunning” mosaics by the Salviati family and highly ornamental marble flooring in the chancel.
The Anglican church is located near Abbey Road Studios and Lord’s Cricket Ground, and has ties to Lewis Carroll and Prince Leopold, the son of Queen Victoria.
The trust identifies it as a “architectural and historical treasure” that was constructed in the Gothic style between 1846 and 1847 according to the plans of architect Thomas Cundy Junior. It was initially designed to accommodate 1,450 people.
In addition to its mosaics and windows, the inside of St. Mark’s Church included exquisite artwork.
St. John’s School in Leatherhead and Lewis Carroll’s works such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland are closely associated with the church.
Last night, over eighty firefighters were sent to a church in north London to combat a large fire. Twelve fire engines were dispatched to the location as flames from St. Mark’s Church illuminated the night sky.
It is believed that the church’s stained-glass windows portraying patron saints have been destroyed.
The church, which is a short walk from Abbey Road Studios and Lord’s Cricket Ground, was consecrated in June 1847, and it supposedly has a ‘history of education and literary associations’ throughout its existence.
It was directly related to the establishment of St. John’s School in Leatherhead and the publication of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
The current vicar of the church is Kate Harrison, who assumed her position in 2015.
Twelve fire engines and over eighty firemen have been dispatched to a church fire on Hamilton Terrace in St. John’s Wood, according to the London Fire Brigade.
The entire two-story structure is ablaze.
Residents are warned to keep their windows and doors closed because the fire is releasing a substantial amount of smoke in the vicinity.
‘Firefighters are utilizing two of the Brigade’s new 32-metre turntable ladders and a 64-metre turntable ladder (the tallest in Europe) at the scene as water towers to deliver water to the exterior of the structure.
‘The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers had received nearly thirty calls about the fire.
The Brigade was summoned at 11:19 p.m. On the scene are fire teams from North Kensington, Paddington, West Hampstead, and neighboring fire stations. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
They later added, “No injuries have been reported.” Fire Investigators have arrived on the scene to investigate the cause of the fire.’
A representative for the London Ambulance Service stated that an ambulance crew, a medic in a fast response car, and members of its hazardous area response team were dispatched to the incident.
The spokeswoman continued, “The incident is ongoing and we are working with our emergency service colleagues.”
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