I am starting this page as the devastating fire on 28th July 2026 happened nearly three weeks ago – and the purpose of this page is to keep a record of what happened since and also to update those who want some more detailed information. Updates will be posted on top of the page.
Details of our Fire Recovery Fund can be found here:
We do what we do – that’s why we are here
Today I got an unexpected message. On Wednesday I voiced doubt whether we should go to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in October. What about the fire? And without Tony (who massively pushed for this) it won’t be the same.
However, for more than a hundred years St Andrew’s has had a relationship with Walsingham. At the last National Pilgrimage we were easily the largest parish group attending. The statue of Our Lady of Walsingham survived the fire – she is covered in soot and dirt but we took her from the church into the Parish Hall. The Luca della Robbia image (unfortunately probably a copy) in the Lady Chapel survived. Most of the Lady Chapel survived, including the wood panelling and paintings. We are St Andrew’s Parish, but for more than a century we are defined by a special filial devotion to Our Lady.
We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song.
This year’s Parish Weekend at Walsingham is obviously going to feel very different.
The person who asked us to do all these things is no longer physically with us. But I truly believe Tony would be looking down on us from Heaven, cheering on St Andrew’s — and probably Leicester Tigers — while holding his lager and wondering why we are all making life so complicated.
If something is good for St Andrew’s, let’s do it.
If something makes our Heavenly Mother happy, let’s do it.
And if something would have made Tony smile, laugh, or raise his lager in approval — even better.
Let’s stand together, pray together, laugh together and remember Tony together.
Because at St Andrew’s, when we mourn, we mourn together. When we work, we work together. And when we celebrate, we celebrate together. St Andrew’s is not just a building, and it is not just a prayer group. It is a family. And every one of us is a vital part of it. Without us, there is no St Andrew’s.
Come to Walsingham. Let’s make Tony proud. And knowing Tony, he’ll probably be checking attendance from Heaven anyway… so we might as well avoid disappointing him.
Wednesday 26th to Saturday 29th August
Gas
Various people from Cadent (gas network) did a lot of digging in the most appalling rain and that means we have gas again in the hall. This is perhaps not the most urgent of the three supplies but it does mean that we won’t be cold when it gets colder and that we can cook.
Good Water and bad water…
The bad news is that the water pipes underneath the floor boards in church have partly melted during the fire and are damaged. That means most of the easier solutions are not feasible. However, thanks to Matt’s ingenuity (capping the system and feeding it from the other side) we now have water in the hall.
Extensions cables also keep the kettles and the Wifi going. This is all very temporary but it does mean that the three most basic human needs (coffee, wifi and a toilet) can be met. Mend and make do….
More bad news is that the falling slates from the church roof have slashed through the roof of the Parish Room in multiple locations and that 2 of the 4 windows are smashed. This means that not only the church but also the Parish Room is currently open to the elements. Even somebody as tireless as Liam with his mop and bucket felt like Sisyphus against the downpour.
Saturday 22nd August – sorting the Peace Garden
The garden was particularly close to Tony’s heart and in the last 3 weeks it did not have any priority – lots of plants have died during the heatwave. However, it got cared for today and in the ‘St Andrew’s Blitz Spirit’ of make do and make right we now have an Outdoor Kitchen. Thanks to a team of living saints coffee, tea and cake are available after Mass again. See you in the garden after Mass tomorrow.
19th August: Initial Organ Inspection
Our organ builder made a site visit and an initial inspection of the instrument – some things are intact and others are very much not. Further work is needed to see what can be restored and what cannot in order to be able to decide what may happen to the organ.
19th August: The Hoarding is going up
For several years there will be a temporary hoarding round the entire site to make it safe and secure (see red line on the photo). Today this is going up and it should all be in place by the end of the week. We are probably going to paint it on Saturday, 12th September – watch this space.
Week 2 and 3: 3rd August to 18th August
Due to the church having been the first building on site and the Parish Room and Hall being added later, the supply of gas, water and electricity go into the church first and then into the other buildings – which causes quite a lot of headaches. The electric system in the vicarage is too small to be extended into the hall and every solution involves digging – and planning ahead when the church needs reconnecting again. It’s better to do a thorough job than having to do the work several times.
However, the temporary church in the Parish Hall is functioning, Heras fencing went up around the car park, hard hats become a fashion item and even though the immediate emergency is over things remain really busy. Some items have survived – and it will take a while to clean them, others need replacing and others are lost.
For a brief period of time the only safe entrance to the Parish Hall is via the fire door – with the slates piling up on the roof like pennies in a beach amusements arcade walking underneath is lethally dangerous.
It’s good to hear from the Pope
A lot of people got in touch to assure us of their support and solidarity – not just Christians and other churches but the local Imam, the Quakers, the Jain Centre and the Hari Krishna Temple. To have friends in difficult times is truly heartening. The letter from the Pope gave everybody a boost – when we most needed it.
The Day of Resurrection: Sunday 2nd August
Sunday happened as normal – and very much not as normal. We gathered in the cleaned Parish Hall and celebrated the Mass – at 10.30am and at 7pm, because that is what we do. It was most encouraging for Craig the firefighter and for Bishop Martyn to join us.
Coming Together: Saturday 1st August
For the community coming to terms with what happened and being able to do something practical Saturday was a beautiful day.
The daily Mass restarted – in the garden to begin with. About 70 people turned up – not all of them part of the regular congregation. Armed with buckets and mops and elbow grease as well as drinks and sugar buns a huge amount of cleaning and tidying up was accomplished.
Assessing the Damage and the Cause: Wednesday 29th & Thursday 30th July
The priority on the day was Tony’s funeral – which happened with dignity at Saffron Hill Cemetery.
Following that the fire investigation began and various windows and doors were boarded up by Wednesday evening. The fire investigation continued for most of Thursday and on Friday some items could be removed from the church.
The night of Tuesday 28th to Wednesday 29th
The fire apparently broke out after 11pm, somewhere in the vestry. The cause is still not clear – but it is good to know that nobody did this deliberately and nobody did anything exceptionally daft. Most importantly, nobody got hurt.
The fire brigade woke me up around 11.15pm and I managed to open two doors before they opened them by force. After retrieving Tony’s body and the Blessed Sacrament, it took them all night and most of the morning to extinguish the fire. More details in the various newsletters.
Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th July – Reception of Tony’s body
Around 40 people came to the short service of Reception – the church looked absolutely magnificent as a large group had worked really hard to make everything clean and shiny on Monday 27th. Lucy did her usual magic with flowers and everybody left with a sense of pride and achievement – and in a way looking forward to give Tony the send off he asked for and deserved.
