Trial by fire

In the early hours of August 23 1989, St. Leonard’s Anglican Church in Exeter was ablaze. But the arsonist’s fire brought the blessings of God. Here John Skinner, the Rector at that time, tells the story . . .

So why was the fire so significant? It was mainly because of the years of frustration that preceded it. What was the cause of this growing frustration?

Two conflicting things. Steady church growth (of a numerical kind) on the one hand, and totally inadequate premises to cope with it on the other. Clearly the trend itself was most welcome and greatly encouraging! Any church would surely be delighted to be faced with it!

But the inability to cope with it, through factors entirely beyond the church’s control, was to prove most discouraging. That was the nub of the frustration.

No way forward

We had considered trying to expand the existing building. Whichever way we turned, the planners appeared un-yielding — there seemed no possible way out — it was almost becoming farcical. The patience of the building group and architect — let alone the PCC and the whole congregation — was being sorely tried. All our best efforts were apparently being thwarted.

We were deeply puzzled as we continued to cry to God for some viable way forward. ‘Surely there must be some solution somewhere? Have we really considered every alternative?’ ‘Please, Lord, intervene in some way.’ And he did! It was just then that the church caught fire — and that one match altered everything.

Night blaze

It was about 1.30 am that the unknown arsonist struck. A local resident in St. Leonard’s Avenue first raised the alarm, and the Fire Brigade were on the scene in no time. Clearly this was a major incident, and their blaring sirens woke the whole neighbourhood. Out of their windows local people could see for themselves the flames leaping high in the sky and the thick pall of smoke.

We have always been grateful to have friendly neighbours around the church, and we thanked God that one of them was still awake that early in the morning to ring for urgent help. We also thanked God that the Fire Service responded so promptly to avert much more widespread damage.

The fire was actually started in the foyer, possibly by someone sleeping rough in the small covered porch. Once the foyer was ablaze, the church tower began to act as a giant flue, drawing enormous heat and thick smoke into the church interior. The whole church was filled with choking smoke from top to bottom, and smoke was billowing out of the top clerestory windows, making them look like a line of ships’ funnels.

Later on, with hindsight, we were able to see that the Fire Brigade had brought the fire under control at a crucial moment. The foyer had been completely destroyed, but the church itself, while being severely smoke-damaged, was nevertheless structurally intact. They had prevented the fire from doing far worse damage, which at that point it was certainly threatening to do. With an eye to the future, it was to be a most significant moment. For our part, of course, we didn’t realise it — but quite clearly God did.

Inside the church, the entrance doors were badly scorched and every conceivable surface was covered by a sticky black residue left by the smoke. Nothing was spared — walls, ceiling, windows, organ pipes, font, pulpit, choir stalls, pews, chairs, Bibles, banners, hymn books — everything! You couldn’t touch anything without getting sticky and dirty. It was chaotic!

Prayer meeting

Sadly, a funeral service arranged for that afternoon had to be rapidly transferred elsewhere and the mourners informed, but the very first church meeting after the fire was a prayer meeting. How appropriate!

The one thing we all instinctively wanted to do was to talk corporately to our loving heavenly Father about what had just happened, and to seek his mind for the days ahead. God certainly led us as to what to do the next Sunday.

Should we find another venue for our services or should we try to get even the minimum cleaned in time? It was a mammoth and daunting task for such a huge building, but, surprisingly, a professional cleaning firm, with all the necessary high-powered equipment, the appropriate detergents and an extremely energetic staff, were free and willing to drop everything else and come to our aid. It was a remarkable provision and a very close call. They started on Thursday and finished late on Friday night! It was a whirlwind two days.

With everything around the burnt-out foyer now sealed off, the only way into the church was through the narrow east end entrance. The congregation poured in for the main services. Apart from amazement at being able to meet in the church at all, there was deep gratitude and joy that things had not been a lot worse, despite the extent of the damage.

The words of the first hymn seemed to catch the mood perfectly: ‘Tell out my soul the greatness of the Lord!’ Throughout the day, there was no sense of dismay or self-pity, but rather deep peace and renewed commitment.

We knew that God could use what had happened for good — and for his glory. But just what he had in store for us none of us knew.

God had cleared the way for a most wonderful redevelopment of the building. And, in a most remarkable way, went on to provide all the funds required.

There is much more to be said on this. But what were the spiritual lessons which we learned from this experience as a church?

Spiritual lessons

First, and foremost, was an enhanced grasp of the greatness of God! As our Almighty Father, absolutely nothing was impossible for him. He alone could open doors that had previously been firmly locked and bolted! It was not only awesome to watch as spectators but he was also at work inside us as well. We were on his workshop bench as he moulded and reconditioned us. It was a tremendous privilege to be caught up in what he was doing so evidently. The living God was seen to be visibly at work!

Second, this was, of course, most clearly reflected in our corporate attitudes in prayer, when the regular church prayer meeting was renamed Centre-Point for Prayer to bring this truth home. Prayer was central for everything and everyone. ‘For our Sovereign God was able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.’

Far from being stuck in one-eyed prayers, only for our own immediate circumstances, we embraced the full gamut of worldwide need, not least for evangelistic outreach, our own included! Our priority of mission never wavered and it was encouraging to see so many of all ages coming to a personal faith in Christ throughout these upheavals.

Third, it proved to be a considerable faith-stretching process, especially in relation to giving. Large sums of money were being asked for, well beyond the experience of many up to that point, and at times, a few understandably ex-pressed their doubts as to whether this was right and possible.

One particular hurdle — for some — came during a critical church meeting when key decisions were being taken about the church centre. The issue was: ‘Would we have enough money to build the whole church centre, or should we settle for the ground floor only, and postpone the upper storey until some time later?’ What would the choice be? At that point, one of our highly respected and most missionary-minded members, Tom Davis, spoke up, ‘We must do it all now’, he said, ‘and we firmly believe that such a generous God will provide all the necessary resources!’ The vast majority agreed — and, of course, he did!

Fourth, and most significantly for the future proclamation of the gospel, St. Leonard’s grew into a much more loving Christian community. Visitors began to comment on it. It was something that they both saw and felt, and was so noticeably in contrast to the world outside! This was to prove an increasingly powerful dimension of witness, because it was a living dimension of the gospel. It was reflecting, of course, what Jesus himself had said to his disciples: ‘As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this will all men know that you are my disciples if you show love one to another’.

Clearly an unloving church is not only a denial of the gospel, but a most unattractive witness! Someone has rightly said: ‘People are often attracted to a Christian community before they are attracted to the Christian message…. the challenge is to ensure that people see our love for one another.

We need to introduce people to the network of believing relationships’. If this unique divine love, ‘poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit’, is sustained in every mission community of Christian people, it will surely be a vital factor in our increasingly pluralistic society. Pray to God that it will attract many more to experience personally the saving love of God in Christ for themselves as a direct result!

Finally — what a fantastic head start for vibrant witness God has seen fit to give St. Leonard’s! — and all through that fire and that one match!

The book Trial by fire by John Skinner is available from Kevin Terrell, 3 Baxter Close, Exeter EX2 7TB (01392 446564).

No way forward

Night blaze

Prayer meeting

Spiritual lessons

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