Destroyed in a blaze

The Independent Methodist Church in Radcliffe, Bury was built in 1892 and destroyed by fire a few days before Easter – the final service being on Palm Sunday. A passing local milkman spotted the blaze and raised the alarm, but despite the valiant attempts of over 40 firefighters the 116 year old building couldn’t be saved. The cause is suspected as being arson, after youths were seen fleeing the scene shortly before the blaze was discovered.

Used for regular church services, the building was also being utilised by the charity Transglobal Humanitarian Aid which was formed 20 years ago by Ian and Raluca Siddall. Although Ian died in 2006, Raluca continued his work and the church held furniture that had been collected ready for sending to a care home for the elderly in Romania.

Raluca says “I don’t have anything now and it’s so frustrating. All the work that Ian put in has gone. I really don’t know what will happen now. I will try to carry on, but it will be hard. I can’t believe that the church has gone’.

Church leader Graham Walsh said “I am still in shock and bewildered that the church has gone. Because I am involved in trying to sort out the mess, the period of reflection hasn’t fully taken place. There is a sadness and a loss, but there is also anxiety about the future. I don’t want the church to close forever. Hopefully we will be able to build a new church on the site. There is a spiritual need in the area.”

We are working closely with Carr Greenwood Smith loss adjusters and the Church to help them through this difficult time.

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