VOWS to rebuild the Mudeford church all but destroyed by a large fire have been made by its defiant warden, who says public support since the incident has been “phenomenal”.
Residents and passers-by are still gazing in awe at the ruins of the 153-year-old All Saints Church after a devastating fire on Thursday, July 14.
While its roof and interior are now a charred mess, parishioners noted how comfort could been drawn from the fact the church’s stone cross still sits proudly atop the ruins below – “a sign” one man said.
Positive thoughts also came from church warden Chris Green who, while describing the fire as “heart-breaking”, says the site will be back “bigger and better”.
She told the Echo: “It will be rebuilt. I can tell you it will definitely be rebuilt how it was before. No modernisation, but it will be a bigger and better church.
“Nobody can go inside at the moment as it’s too unstable but firemen are coming back again this week with a forensics team because we still don’t know how it all started.
“They may not come to a conclusion and we may never know what happened, but our work continues regardless.
“We may not have a building but it’s about the people who make up the church so we’re still looking into local locations to hold our services.
“We serve the community of Mudeford and that’s what we’re all about, so as long as we have somewhere temporary-permanent so to speak, our services will continue as before.”
According to Chris, All Saints welcomed up to 80 people most Sundays for its morning service and well as dozens more for other events such as weddings, baptisms and community offerings.
Money is already being collected for the church and a fundraising page will be set up soon.
“The outpouring of love and support has just been phenomenal,” added Chris.
“Inside it is just total barren. It’s heart-breaking to come down here and see it like this because the church is my second home, but life goes on and you have to deal with it.
“The belltower has to come down as it’s a hazard but the cross is still there which is amazing.”
Chris says she and her colleagues estimate it could be as long as two-years before the church is rebuilt in all its glory. However, the prospect of a long wait doesn’t phase her.
She concluded: “You can always rebuild a building – it’s the people you can’t rebuild and it’s those people that make the church what it is.”
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