Historic Church Destroyed By Fire

Chronicle (Levin), 5 December 1949, Page 5

Historic Church Destroyed By Fire

CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 4. The historic St. Mark'a Chnrc.li, j Opawa, was damaged beyond repair by fire early yesterday morning. Built in 1865, St. Mark's was oue of the oldest buildings in Christchurch and contained many links with tllfe early settlement of Canterbury. The Vicar, Rev. B. O. Plumb, was , awakened at 4 a.m. and hq ran across the road from the vicarage .to. the i chureh which was then blazing fiereeiy. He managed to save the cross from the alter, the brass altar furniture*, Communion vessela and chureh records, before heat drqve him out. The fire bpigade was . called at 3.52 a,m. but all that it could d.o was to prevent the spread of the fire to the paris h hall 15 yards ayv^ay . ^ . . The cause of^ti^lfir^ is, nht knsfcn. The church had i^qt bqen used for service since Sunday, November 27, The police are investigating the disoovery of infiammable rubbish piled agaiust the north door. It was obvious after the fire died down, that nothing of valne remained, The fire burned surprisingly few holes in the wooden walla and th.Q exteriqr gave no indication of the devastation inside. Only the shell y^as left standing. The pews to seat from 250 to 300 people were redueed to charcoal. Gaping holes were left in the floor. The organ long pipes were cut off shorf and the fiames ate into the woodworx. It was at the east end that the fire had done its worst, The lovely stained glass windqwa were shattered while the eagle lectern plaeed in the ohurch in 1906 as a memorial to Archdeacon and Mrs Cholmondeley, was destroyed The minister 's vestry- escaped comparatively lightly althongh Mr Plumb lost most of his robes. The ehoir vestry, uearef the centre of the chureh, was wreckqd. Memorial plates of great historic value were damaged beyond repair. The writing could not be deciphered on two plaques on th'e south wall. Barge pieees were all that could be reelaimed of the marble tablet on the north wall plaCed in memory of Mr J. WiHis. Another bearing the name of Augustus R. Pavitt who was living in Canterbury before the arrival of the first four ships, was still on the. wall but had been eracked right across. The tremendous heat buckled a hrass memorial on the west wajl to 31 men who gave their lives in World War l. The large font near the porch - was badly chipped and cracked. The foundation stone of the chureh was laid on May 6, 1865 by the Primate of New ZeaJand (Bishop Selwyn), assisted by Bishop Harper, of Christchurch, and Bishop WUJiams, of Wai1 apu, The day was yery wet "and Mrs Murray-Aynsley held. on umbrella over | Bishop Selwyn during the service.