Many people in Mudeford can still remember what they were doing on the evening of 14th July 2022. That was the day a fire devastated All Saints Church, just 3 years after it had marked its 150th anniversary.
A Bible study group was taking place in the adjacent church hall at the time of the fire. Churchwarden and treasurer Tony Eden was there and recalls the moment:
There was suddenly a very odd noise so we thought we’d check the church. At that point, we realised we couldn’t open the door and I immediately went outside and smoke and fire was pouring out. It got steadily worse and the whole neighbourhood came and watched in horror. It wasn’t only the west end of the church, the east end was then on fire and then the hall as well. We were there until about 11 o’clock and the fire brigade stayed overnight to dampen it down. It was just an absolute shock, we couldn’t believe what had happened. It was very painful, a day we shall always remember, 14th July 2022.
For many people, like Churchwarden Christine Green, it’s still very painful. “It was devastating news because this was my second home quite frankly. I struggle when I go inside and see what it looks like now but we’ve had so much support locally because it wasn’t just the church, it was a building that served the whole community here in Mudeford and beyond.”
Despite the best efforts of fire crews, the fire destroyed all but a few walls of the church. An investigation was inconclusive but ruled the fire was probably caused by an electrical fault.
Tony Eden added, “A few days after the fire, we had an open air service on the green. It was very poignant and very memorable because the Bishop of Southampton, then Bishop Debbie joined us. She had cut short a holiday to come and bring comfort and solace. That was the start of us all getting together and we’ve managed to keep that community together with activities and with the strength of fellowship and Christian worship.”
Plans to rebuild All Saints started straight away. In the last 2 ½ years church members and the community have been working hard to restore the church. Remains of the building were stabilised and architects were appointed. Relevant permissions have been obtained from the council and diocese. The final tenders for the work were sent out at the end of last month. It’s taken hundreds of hours of work, discussion and prayer.
Christine Green added, “It took a long time for us to be able to look forward to anything because we had so many obstacles to overcome and various setbacks as well. We’ve had many challenges during the course of the 2½ years but we’ve overcome them and with the grace of God, we’ve got such a fantastic team, a steering group, and now we’ve got a fundraising group. Everyone is so committed to what they’re doing and that’s a real joy.”
The work will cost around £6 million. The church’s insurance will cover a like-for-like rebuild. The church will have same design as the original Victorian building, however improvements are planned to bring it up to modern standards, including an updated kitchen and first floor extension to the hall with a lift, additional storage and meeting areas. A new entrance lobby is planned for the church with improved accessibility, an energy efficient heating system including underfloor heating, and stacking chairs will replace the fixed wooden pews.
An appeal to the congregation generated an extra £65,000 along with money from trusts and grants. Local businesses have also stepped in by putting collecting boxes in their premises and hosting events. A nearby pub raised £300 with a Christmas raffle.
Now a fundraising appeal has been launched to try to raise the shortfall of just over £300,000, with events planned for the coming year.
Last week a cheese and wine event was held at a hotel opposite the church to which local business leaders, councillors, community groups and the mayor were invited to hear about the plans.
Chairman of the fundraising group John Ward said, “When my wife and I moved to the area in 2011, we started getting involved with organisations and a lot of them met at the church, so it was a kind of second home and the fire was devastating. The church is such a friendly place, and we want to bring it back. The community are really with us and it has brought people together. My hope for the future is to see the church back to how it was and thriving with lots of people using it. It has always had a place in people’s hearts and I think it always will.”
Mudeford is a small village close to Christchurch in Dorset. The church was built in 1869 as a fisherman’s chapel seating around 120 people. The church hall added in 1991. It was seen as the spiritual heart of the village as a place of worship and the social heart of the village as a community centre. Since the fire, the church has been worshipping in various community halls.
Revd Kathy Hicken was welcomed to the River Mude Benefice which includes All Saints in Mudeford and St Luke’s in Burton in 2024. She said, “It’s been a great privilege to join All Saints in the middle of their planning for the rebuild and it’s such an incredible opportunity. We’ve just celebrated 150 years and how many vicars get the opportunity to rebuild their church for the next 150 years? It’s such a privilege to be in the position of shaping a church for the future. I can’t say that it’s easy being without a building to base ourselves from because All Saints is a very busy church with lots going on. These activities have continued but in different ways. People have been very generous in giving us venues and places to use for the different groups that we run.”
The church hosted activities from bumps and babies to groups for the elderly, men’s groups, Messy Church and breakfast church, art clubs, pilates, coffee mornings, neighbourhood groups, Bible and study groups. All have had to find temporary homes.
Christine Green commented, “The church is not just for us, it’s for the whole community here. It was well used before and my vision is that we can build on that and add other activities as well. It will give us the chance to spread the good news of what God is doing for us and that’s really what we want to do. That’s our purpose in life – to spread God’s love and how better can we do that than in the community.”
Further fundraising events are planned for the coming months including a coffee morning at a beach café, quiz evening at the local sailing club and possibly a parish ball.
It’s hoped a contractor can be appointed in April with the first brick being laid in May. It’s thought the building work will take between a year or 18 months to complete.
Revd Kathy added, “I think our heart is that it will be a real home for the whole community, that everyone who comes will feel the presence of God and will feel loved and feel safe and be able to share their struggles and their joys. It’s a place to share life together with our community. Our heart is for it to be a village hub, a centre where everyone can come and experience God and also just to have that sense of community together.”
