THE CHURCH FIRE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 215, 30 May 1918, Page 4

THE CHURCH FIRE

ST. MAM'S VISITED BY h\ A NT.

Throughout the whole of yesterday a continuous stream of peoplo visited St. Mnry's of the Angels Church, in Boulcott Street, to inspect the damage doao by Tuesday evening's fire. There- is ever a tender sentiment attaching, to an old church of any Christian religion, iuid there were nut u few who, having hud their spiritual needs ministered In in "the little church upon the bill" s : nco childhood, were visibly iiftVlcd by the scene of desolate ruin presented by that' part of the interior lo which (ho lire was confined. Tlio wonder I hat Oio Fire. Brigade wiw able- to confine, the, llamas to one corner of the church in. tcmyfies on an inspection of the inlerior in daylight. The old church is highly inflammable throughout, yet though tha llames established n tierce grip of 'tb« belfry and the larger sacristy, they were confined to that section. To show how effectually this was done only one of tho leadlight window sets was broken--tho f;et nearest the burnt-out sacristy. In the smaller sacristy the window w.ih bulged and twisted, but the very beautiful stained-glass windows in the body of the church wero intact. The organ came through tlie ordeal splendidly. Owing to tho smoke and water, - however, it will probably need .1 complete over, haul. Two or three of the Stations of tho Cross pictures (fourteen in number) were, damaged, but the rest were saved. Their value is negligible, save for tho sentiment attaching to them. l>o fur nothing has been decided as to ■what steps are to be taken to restore or rebuild the church.

A brass memorial tablet in the church records the names of deceased priests, who have ministered in the church (with, the year of their death). The list is as follows: Eev. Father J. J. P. O'Roily, 1880. Rev. Father A. Sauxeau, 1892. Rev. Father M. J. Kearney, 1891. Rev. Father P. Kerrigan, 1894. .Vev. Father J. I'. E, Pestre, 1901. Rev. Father J. Leterrier, 11)02. Rev. Father AV. J. Lewis, 1807. Rev. Father P. Hualt, 1909; Rev. Father J. M'Namara, 1911. R«v. Father C. J. Venning, 1912. The Rev. Father Hoare (not Hall, as stated in yesterday's Dominion) is at present the curate of St. Mary's. _ Lel-1 evening Superintendent 'lait, of the Municipal Fire Brigade, was handed a 'fitter from the Rev. Father Mahoney, parish priest at St. Mary of the Angels, ljoiilcotl: Street, in which was expressed the very best thanks to the superintendent and the brigade for the • splendid work they accomplished on Tuesday evening in saving so much of the cliurch building. On behalf of his fellow-priests and himself he thanked and congratulated the brigade. The letter was accompanied by 11 cheque for £W for the bn"ade's recreation fund. Superintendent Tait keenly appreciates tho prompt recognition of the brigade's work on the part of the fathers of St. Mary's.