Minister treated in hospital after blaze wrecks Belfast church

Firefighters were called to St Colman’s Parish Church of Ireland in Dunmurry shortly after 1am following reports that the church building was on fire.

The minister – Adrian McLaughlin, in his early 40s – spotted the fire as he went to look for his cat.

He tried to combat it himself, but to no avail.

He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and kept on oxygen for about four to five hours before being discharged.

The church has been offered two new premises in Dunmurry while the listed building – dating back to 1908 – is repaired.

It had only just undergone something of a make-over inside.

Rev McLaughlin (who has only been in post at the parish for about 18 months) is coughing a lot and is under instructions to drink plenty of fluids, said his wife Christine.

However, it is understood he is recovering well, and it is hoped he will be able to take the upcoming Sunday service.

He was resting when the News Letter called.

Instead John Williams, a 63-year-old Lisburn man who holds the post of diocesian reader (that is, he is not a clergyman but is licensed to take services), explained what happened.

He said they are not certain of the precise cause, but that the fire service are treating it as an accidental electrical fire.

“I’ll tell you how it was noticed,” he said.

“The rector [Rev McLaughlin] and his wife have a young cat, and the cat hadn’t come in last night.”

While he was up checking on the animal’s whereabouts, the minister saw “what he thought was the light on in the pulpit” and went to investigate.

“It was a glow coming from behind the pipes of the organ,” said Mr Williams.

“He ran out to the rectory and pulled the garden hose in. And it must’ve been electrical – as soon as he put the water on it, the whole thing went up.”

The fire brigade then attended, with more than 30 firefighters on the scene.

The church had just had a new sound system installed a few weeks ago which is now wrecked, and Rev McLaughlin had recently purchased (at his own expense) a brass chandelier to decorate the church.

“It’s now lying in tatters on the floor,” said Mr Williams.

In addition, the main Bible was damaged, as were hymn books.

The roof is likely to need to be replaced, said Mr Williams, adding that it may be 12 months before the building can be used again.

Roughly 100 people attend its Sunday service, and two other churches – King’s Way and Dunmurry Presbyterian – have offered their premises to help.

Mr Williams said nothing like it had befallen the church during his lifetime, but said: “We will rise from the ashes.”

St Colman’s Church of Ireland building enjoys a B+ listing – the second-highest grade in the Province.

Nikki McVeigh, the chief executive of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society (UAHS), said it was “concerned “ to learn of the fire, and wished all those concerned a speedy recovery.

It said that the B+ listing marks it out as “one of Northern Ireland’s more important listed buildings, in terms of its architectural and historical significance”.

She added: “Electrical issues in historic buildings have been known to cause this type of damage.

“We hope that measures can be taken, and the means found to reinstate historic fabric and contents of this important building, allowing its continued use as soon as is possible.

“The UAHS offers its advice and support in this, if this is required.”

A firefighter was also reported to have suffered injury while tackling the blaze.

A Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service received a call at 1:08am to a report of a fire at premises at the Church Avenue area of Dunmurry in the early hours of this morning (Monday January 11).

“Two fire Appliances from Lisburn Fire Station, two fire appliances from Cadogan Fire Station, two fire appliances from Springfield Fire Station and one fire appliance from Central Fire Station were deployed to the scene. Assistance was also provided by the Fire Emergency Support Service appliance.

“Firefighters using four jets, two hosereel jets, thermal imaging cameras, 1 9 metre ladder and a triple extension ladder were used to deal with a fire in the roof of a church in the area.

“One firefighter was taken to hospital with non-serious injuries, following masonry falling on him during the incident.

“Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service finished at the scene at 5:20am and the fire is being treated as accidental.”