Church in Flames

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 82, 6 April 1929, Page 7

Church in Flames

NAPIER CONFLAGRATION OLD BUILDING DESTROYED [ Per Press Association. ] NAPIER, April 5. St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church was almost completely destroyed by a disastrous fire to-night which raged for over two 1 urs. The structure, a wooden building with a steeple and bell tower, was one of the oldest in Napier, having been erected in 1861. With the church went the pipe organ, one of the best instruments of its kind in New Zealand. It was valued at about £2OOO, apart from the case of choice kauri. The building, which was of kauri, burnt like tinder. The scat of the lire was near the organ and the flames swept through, aided by a strong draught, till they reached the steeple. Within half an hour the flames had wrapped round it and ;.t one stage there was a danger that it would collapse. By strenuous efforts the firemen prevented this, but were unable to stay the fire’s progress elsewhere. When, after two hours and a-half, the flames were forced down nothing was left but the shell—a shadow of what had once been a majestic church. The Sunday school, only a few yards from the main building, was early made secure and it escaped'undamaged. From the Church nothing was saved beyond a few valuable pictures out of the vestry and several books. The insurances are not ascertainable at present.