Antrim All Saints Parish church is the oldest church still used for worship in Northern Ireland. But it has just faced a new and urgent challenge: fire.
Founded in 1596, the building embodies centuries of history within its fabric. It stands on an earlier ecclesiastical site, meaning that people have been worshipping in this place for longer than the present church was there.
However, all of this was put at risk during a fire over Christmas. It is suspected that one of the candles, used as part of the Christmas Day Service, is thought to have relit and has ended up causing significant damage to this historic church.
"Colossal” damage
The fire was discovered days later by one of the parish flower arrangers, who arrived at the church to set up flowers for an upcoming service.
“When she opened the door she was met with the smell of smoke. On opening the inner doors, she discovered that the church was filled with dense smoke,” Archdeacon Stephen McBride told The Belfast Telegraph.
“Thankfully she did not attempt to enter the building but phoned for the Fire Service who were at the church within minutes.”
As the doors had been closed for several days, the fire had been starved of oxygen and burned itself out.
“The damage is very localised and we are hopeful there is no major structural damage, but will await an architect’s closer inspection,” continued Archdeacon McBride.
“However, the smoke damage is colossal. The smoke even managed to get inside cupboards that were shut.
“Having just celebrated Christmas with some very uplifting services and also being featured recently on UTV’s Hidden Places Northern Ireland, it is so sad to now look at our church building in such a terrible state.”
An immense task
Antrim All Saints featured as part of our ‘Last Chance Churches’ appeal last year. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, £34,985 was given to the church to help them make urgent repairs to their tower.
Alongside their own fundraising and grants from The Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, All Saints was set to fix the crumbling stonework, which was a health and safety hazard. The gutters and drainpipes were also set to be repaired, both of which have led to extensive water damage inside the tower.
All of this is part of Antrim All Saints vision to help open up their church even more to visitors. The National Churches Trust – through our Treasure Ireland project – has been working with volunteers at the church with their tower project and how they can attract more people to their church to enjoy the wonderful heritage inside.
Now, the church will have to face the immense task of undertaking these essential repairs while also now fixing the damage caused by the fire.
Coming together to support All Saints
Nina McNeary, our Support Officer based in Northern Ireland, visited the church to see the aftermath of the fire, alongside Archdeacon McBride.
“There is still an overwhelming acris smell of smoke and soot, which seems to cling to every corner of this beloved buildings,” shares Nina.
Archdeacon McBride, though visibly shaken by the devastation, expressed his gratitude that the flames had not spread beyond the church.
“It’s heartbreaking to see the damage, but we’re incredibly fortunate it wasn’t worse,” explains Archdeacon McBride. “What’s been most humbling is the way people have come together to support us.”
The community’s response has been nothing short of extraordinary. Neighbouring churches quickly set up donation collections, and a GoFundMe campaign has shown just how much this historic church means to people near and far.
“The fire is a significant challenge,” the Archdeacon admitted, “but with the strength of our congregation and the incredible support from the wider community, I have no doubt we will rebuild together.”
A poignant reminder
Every year, several churches in the UK are severely damaged by fire. Usually these are in disused or abandoned churches and are caused by arson. Others can be caused by electrical faults.
If a fire starts in the roof area of a church, it can swiftly take hold as the structure contains a lot of highly combustible wood. That was what happened in 2019 at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which has just been successfully restored and reopened following the devastating fire.
“The recent fire at Antrim All Saints is a poignant reminder of the essential role that recording plays in safeguarding heritage,” says Nina.
“Having detailed documentation, such as high-quality photographs, architectural plans and historical records, makes it easier to restore buildings as it offers a critical roadmap for any conservation efforts.”
“We encourage churches to ensure they have these – and that they are up to date – not only in case the worst happens, but because having these records can help your church to share its unique heritage and story with visitors. There are regional and national organisations across the UK that can help you to do this. At the National Churches Trust, we work with churches of all denominations and can help signpost you to this vital support.
“The National Churches Trust will continue to offer support to Antrim All Saints to not only help them recover from the smoke damage, but to help them achieve their vision of welcoming even more visitors to their beautiful church.”
