The Fire - 1979
May 5th : We were woken up by a policeman hammering on the door at about 1.30am. The Fire Brigade was already there, but helpless, as the nearby hydrants had no water pressure until relays were put through about an hour later. We called the Churchwardens, Mr. Gordon Dickinson and Brigadier Andrew Leslie, and together we watched the fire gradually go out of control. Finally the tower caught, and perhaps the most poignant moment was seeing the bells swinging silently in the flames. Damping down continued into daylight.
We could then see the total destruction of the nave, chancel, south aisle, choir and Wardens' vestries. The top half of the tower was severely damaged, all the bells cracked. On the other hand, the clergy vestry survived, though badly smoked through the "squint". The safes had saved the silver, but the documents were badly scorched.
Archdeacon Finch arrived early and Derek Wren (Church Architect) by 11am. Brant's of Tadley came at 2pm to make the ruins safe. The wedding was transferred to St. Barnabas Church – future weddings will be held at either Eversley or Hartley Witney Churches.
Much help was offered by local churches, and Sundays were arranged as follows: 8am at St. Barnabas'; 9.15am and Baptisms at St. Swithun's R.C. Church; 6.30pm at Yateley R.C. Convent School – and these arrangements continue until we re-open.
Week May 9th – 15th : Clock removed for repair by Chris McKay. Tower inspected, but scraping of timbers needed for accurate survey.
Brant's completed removal of debris by 18th, helped by members of congregation who shifted all remains. One immediate result was finding of nearly all pieces of the altar Cross which was remade by Doug Coltart and his staff at Windsor Tech.
Letters start to flood in including immediate gift of £500 from Farnborough Parish Church, and some £1,100 from many individulas. Health Centre offer accepted of rooms for vicar's weekly 'surgery' and monthly Baptism Preparation. Storage space provided by Yateley Industries. 7000 leaflets distributed in the Parish to advertise all details of pro tem. arrangements.
Interviews for local papers and four minute spot on Southern ITV. County and Hart District archaeologists visited the site.
May 19th : Visit by Mr. Hughes of Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Thereafter some time spent in the idea of getting the set of bells from Privett, nr. Petersfield, but this finally ends in August when we find their price is too high.
May 20th : Archdeacon Finch with us for Evensong and his sermon gives great encouragement. During this period several visits are paid by Jean McIlwaine and others to take down the archives (first sorted out at St. Neot's School) and help with their preservation. There is concern later that County is acting too slowly, but they were not geared for this eventuality. Archives have remained in Winchester.
First protective covering put on north walls by Bob Kent and Reg Warner.
June 1st : Thought given to rebuilding elsewhere, but no good use for St. Peter's ruins available; cost of buying land too high (£40,000 asked for plot between pub and Health Centre); and clear emotional need to rebuild on site. Equally clear sense of need not to rebuild St. Peter's as it was, but with the facilities needed now and in the future.
June 5th : PCC meeting does not achieve spirit of unity all would wish, but several decisions taken. Derek Wren confirmed as architect with Corinna Bennett (Winchester Cathedral architect) as consultant. The tower to be restored first as this straightforward and an assurance that things are happening. That a subcommittee be formed to draw up and architect's brief. That fund raising be co-ordinated by the Finance Committee. That we shall pay out £350 for choir robes, the choir only recently completed the making of new robes which were all lost. That a Gift Day be held on June 30th specifically towards the tower repair.
June 12th : Initial report by Frank Simpson, structural engineer: south wall worst affected; central colonnade cannot survive though braced for the moment; tower can be restored, but better if bells placed one floor down.
First rough costing by John Wooldridge, Quantity Surveyor: tower - £25,000 and new building if built out 30 feet on south side about £400,000.
June 17th : Briefing sub-committee defines aims to include chapel to seat at least 30; main church for 100 plus a hall area hich could also be used to add seating to 300. Hope to link Sunday School with morning worship.
June 30th : Gift Day for tower produced £2,000 (mainly from congregation) with some other offers of help and some Covenants. Many felt immediate Gift Day would have produced more, but Vicar and Wardens against this as they felt people should have some idea what they were giving for. Also mindful of the long time lag between an early gift Day and any obvious action! Deep gratitude to Davif Lewis who calmly accepted the enormous workload that being Treasurer now involved, and to which he added that of Church Warden on Gordon Dickinson's illness at year's end.
July 1st : Briefing sub-committee agreed to revise seating numbers upwards if possible, while also aiming for space rather than a crowded church. Bookstalls, notices, displays will need spaces. Other items needed: Clergy/wardens/choir vestries; flower facilities; church office; kitchen and toilets in connection with hall. Hope for a meeting room of some sort. PCC agreed brief so far on July 3rd.
July 5th : Bob Kent and Reg Warner agree to speed up tower scraping and to improve protection of walls to specification.
July 11th : Ecclesiastical Insurance Company pays out £5,000 for present needs (e.g. Brant's £2,600). Donations now top £5,000.
July 15th : Useful meeting with Archdeacon. He will support grant application to Department of the Environment. The Bishop of Basingstoke visited on the 18th.
August 5th : Planning sub-committee reviewed plan to restore tower fist in face of criticisms but decide to adhere to it as costs now less than after church is finished; there will be a saving on winter weatherproofing; it will show things are happening; we believe we would raise the £75,000 or more needed for the whole job.
Derek Wren produced his first plans in which he had incorporated a very large number of suggestions made to him, although there were a number of alterations needed to this first shot, as expected. The sub-committee was now dissolved and it's function taken on by the Building and Finance Committee.
August 11th : Peter Harknett, steeplejack, removed the top of the tower – not very delicately – and lowered the eight bells onto a hired truck which was then driven to Whitechapel Foundry. There were hopes of saving some parts of the bells, but in the end cost overrode sentiment. But all markings were recorded so as to be reproduced when the bells recast.
August 16th : B & F Committee reviewed ideas so far with architect. Desire to use roof space expressed. Position of altar look at all ways, even aslant! Emphasis on access for wheelchairs to all parts. Partitions and doors and needs for weddings and funerals discussed.
August 17th : Mr. Hasley of Historic Buildings Council visits re. DOE grant and expressed belief we might get £20,000 for tower. In the end we get nothing as tower "too damaged".
September : Vicar on holiday in USA, but used trip to set up appeal to St. Peter's churches. Eventual result, some £3,000 and some continuing contacts, especially with Brenham, Texas. Appeal supported by Bishop Bob Jones of Wyoming.
September 20th : Archaeological meeting with County and District reps. Co-operation with this aspect will help with grants, but we need to watch work is not held up.
New plans seen and approved by Archdeacon with Building Committee on 20th; by PCC on 23rd; and by members of Town Council at informal meeting on 29th.
Public meeting on Sunday 30th drew some 150, and Derek Wren at his best in presenting plans. Much enthusiastic approval, though some concern hall not big enough to perform it's function.
October 14th : Amended design to hall full width of the building, but principal is that long term use of hall cannot be forecast, so use must fit the hall, not vice-versa. Long discussion on church/hall partition begun. At this time flexible walls thought not soundproof enough, so idea of low wall with sliding windows, but fear those sitting in hall would feel "second class".
October 23rd : Building Committee makes unity of congregation priority over soundproofing, so window partition ruled out. Kitchen restored to old choir vestry to enlarge hall.
October 26th : Balance of insurance to total £203,000 received from E.I.O.
November 1st : As Whitechapel cannot handle our bells for at least a year we accept their suggestion that we go to John Taylor's of Loughborough.
November 5th : Our medieval tiles (once in anchorite cell, latterly in the choir) removed by Kevin Stubbs (County archaeologist) for cleaning etc. Later Derek Wren did this himself as nothing had been done.
November 8th : County Grant of £3,500 which is the same as we had received from Hart and Town
November 14th : Architect and Vicar present plans to Diocesan Advisory Committee and meet with generous approval. We are asked to submit interior plans when possible.
November 17th : Tower restoration meeting in optimistic vein. Plans now awaited from Frank Simpson and bell foundry to make a start.
November 21st : Visit to Hart Planning Officer, Mr. Cull, raises no problems, but visit to V.A.T. office warns that V.A.T. basically payable on everything over old floor area, however new the design. If remaining walls were levelled there is no V.A.T!
November 22nd : Day of Prayer for Congregation for building and it's financing.
December 2nd : Congregational Gift Day produces a magnificent £19,000 in gifts and covenants.