CITY CHURCH ON FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21159, 16 April 1932, Page 11

CITY CHURCH ON FIRE.

DAMAGE TO EPIPHANY.

DESTRUCTION OF ORGAN. CAUSE OF OUTBREAK UNKNOWN. Serious damage was done to the Church of the Epiphany, Karangahape Road, by a fire which broke out last evening just about the time of the commencement of the disturbances which occurred in the shopping area near by. The fire apparently broke out in the choir vestry beneath the sanctuary and quickly spread upwards through the organ loft. The flames travelled along the vaulted roof and were breaking out through the northern wall overlooking Karangahape Road when the fire engines arrived. The alarm was given about 9.15 p.m. and by that time the fire had a strong hold of the interior. The fire was soon under control, but great difficulty was experienced in completely extinguishing the blazo owing to the extreme height of the roof, where the timbers were burning in several places. The main damage was done to the organ, which was soon a charred mass. The portion of the building in the vicinity of the organ was badly burned and the whole of the choir library was consumed. Tho fire did not touch the altar, but nearly all the choir robes and the altar hangings were damaged by water. The sweep of the flames along the roof badly charred the roof principals and the timber lining of the roof. The vicar, the Rev. Jasper Calder, arrived soon after the flames had been got under control and he was able to save the church records and the communion plate. The origin of the fire could not be determined last night. The organist, Mr. Ewart Lyne, was the last person known to have been in the building before the frre. He had been playing the organ from 4 to 5 p.m. and when he left all appeared to be well and there was no sign of fire. He turned off the electric power at the main switches, which are at the end of tho building, remote from the seat of the fire, and locked the doors. The fire appeals to have originated just inside a sniaJl door in the crypt at the back of the church. No accurate estimate of the extent of the damage could be gained last night, but it may easily run into hundreds of pounds. The church is a wooden building in the Gothic style of architecture and was erected in 1886. It is capable of seating about 350 worshippers. A picnic which had been arranged for the choir to day has been postponed and a special effort will be made by working parties to render the church fit for the holding of services to-morrow.