Beachamwell Church thatched roof being replaced after fire

Now a rare thatched church is rising from the ashes after a devastating fire.

St Mary's Church at Beachamwell, near Swaffham, which dates back to early Norman or perhaps even late Saxon times, was one of less than 100 which had kept its thatched roof, while other places of worship across the region and further afield plumped for more durable tiles to keep the weather out.

In February, 2022, a stray spark from a welding torch set light to the it, destroying the roof and gutting the interior.

Ten fire crews were sent in to tackle the blaze, which left the church in ruins.

A giant crane towered over the village green on Monday as the first oak trusses were lifted carefully into place under the watchful eye of vicar, the Rev Ian Mack.

A crane towers over St Mary's Church at Beachamwell as its new roof trusses are lifted into place (Image: Chris Bishop)Dr Mack, who was ordained after retiring as a GP three years ago, was appointed after the fire, so has yet to lead a service in his own church. 

"It's amazing to see this happening today," he said. "To see the roof trusses being put in place, to know that the roof will be back on this building by Christmas.

Rev Ian Mack at Beachamwell Church, which was devastated by fire in February, 2022 (Image: Chris Bishop)"It will be nice to be able to bring the community together somewhere other than the village green."

Lay minister Pippa Blackall, now 74, had been leading services at the church since 1995 before the fire.

Lay minister Pippa Blackall at the church (Image: Chris Bishop)

"I was just stunned like everyone else," she said. "It was such a massive shock.

"It's been wonderful to see all the hard work that's gone in getting to this point.

"If the tower had collapsed, that would have been devastating - you can see it from wherever you are around here."

Work under way on the roof of the church at Beachamwell (Image: Chris Bishop)Parishioners have been counting their blessings that St Mary's was insured after the fire.

Restoration work to the roof and interior, which has cost around £400,000 so far, has all been covered.

The round tower of the church at Beachamwell, to which repairs were needed which were not covered by its insurance after the fire of February, 2022 (Image: Chris Bishop)During the work, issues were found with the tower, which was not covered.

Norfolk Churches Trust and the Round Tower Churches Society have each donated £5,000 for repairs needed to its ancient mortar.

Michael Pollitt, vice chairman of the Round Tower Churches Society (Image: Chris Bishop)Michael Pollitt, vice chair of the Round Tower Churches Society, said: "Round tower churches are a very special feature of Norfolk, there are 124 in the county, so of course it was devastating in February 2022, when the terrible fire destroyed this church.

"What makes this church special is it's in the heart of the community, slap bang in the middle of the village."

The church at Beachamwell before the fire (Image: Ian Burt)Retired civil servant Peter Berendt, 67, lives in the village and is one of the churchwardens at St Mary's.

"I was married in this church, my kids were christened in it," he said. "To see it burn down was a disaster.

Peter Berendt, churchwarden at St Mary's at Beachamwell (Image: Chris Bishop)"It was horrifying, I knew that all the registers were in the church, including the register with my wedding in it."

The church's gilded weather vane glowed in weak autumn sunshine as contractors set to work.

The gilded weather vane of the church at Beachamwell (Image: Chris Bishop)

"At least that's not windy," one said. "Someone up there must be on our side."

Once the building is watertight again, work can begin on restoring its interior and replacing its stained glass windows.

A giant crane towers over the church at Beachamwell as its roof trusses are lifted into place (Image: Chris Bishop)A giant crane towers over the church at Beachamwell as its roof trusses are lifted into place (Image: Chris Bishop)A giant crane towers over the church at Beachamwell as its roof trusses are lifted into place (Image: Chris Bishop)