FIRE IN VESTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 226, 24 September 1929, Page 10

FIRE IN VESTRY.

CHURCH BUILDING DAMAGED.

INCENDIARISM SUSPECTED

COMMUNION VESSELS LOST.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHPJSTCHURCH, this day

A fire which gutted the vestry of St. Mary's Anglican Church, Addington, lust night, is believed to have been started by an incendiarist.. .

Shortly after nine o'clock a passer-by noticed flames issuing from the roof of the church. The City Brigade confined the flames to the vestry, and the nave of the church escaped damage by'fire, although the water and smoke must have a damaging effect. The furniture of the vestry was destroyed, and a set of communion vessels was lost in the flames.

As far as is known no authorised person had been in the church since 11 o'clock in the morning. Prior to that hour Canon Bean, who is Vicar of St. Mary's parish, had been working in the vestry, and everything was in order when he left the building. There was nothing of an inflammable nature that would cause an outbreak in the vestry. The doors of the church were unlocked'and it was an easy jnatter for anyone to. go into the building.

A meeting was being held in the Parish Hall, in Park Street, about two chains from the church, when the outbreak occurred.

The building is about 60. years old and is built of wood, with a shingle roof. If the fire had gained strength there would have been little hope for the church, which is one of the oldest in Canterbury. The damage should not exceed £150.