The vicar of a burnt-out church says she wants to "sit in the middle of the devastation and just pray".

Mother Kate Harrison, vicar of St Mark's Church is St John's Wood, had to just "stand and watch" as fire ripped through the building on January 26.

Few people have been allowed in but a first few pictures of the devastation have emerged.

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Rev Kate put pictures of the damage inside the church on her twitter handle, @tweet_too_woo, but they were not taken by her.

"I've not been allowed in yet because it's not safe, which is heartbreaking," she said.

"I feel I need to go in there and sit in the middle of the devastation and if nothing else just to pray.

"I'm also praying whereever I am but there's something very special about praying in a building that's been prayed in for about 175 years.

"It's soaked into the walls. You can tell when somewhere has been treated as sacred - it's got a different feel to it." 

 

Fire crews were called at 11.19pm on January 26 and had the flames under control by 2.22am.

Twelve fire engines and around 80 firefighters were scrambled to tackle the blaze. 

The roof and inside of the Grade II listed two-storey building was destroyed by fire.

"They are doing forensic investigations but the truth is we might never know the cause," said Kate.

"They are trying their hardest but it might not happen. It's really hard to stomach the fact we might never know. 

"I know it won't make a difference but I'd like to know what happened to my gorgeous building."

Ham & High: Rev Kate Harrison of St Mark's Church which was devastated by a fire in January Rev Kate Harrison of St Mark's Church which was devastated by a fire in January (Image: Ecclesiastical Insurance)

A former youth worker for a local authority working with care leavers and young offenders, Mother Kate was ordained in 2015.

She spent three years in Windsor to gain experience before given the keys to St Mark's in 2018.

"It's been wonderful. It's a fabulous worshiping community at St Marks.

"Since we've been there we've been able to do a lot of the things to reach out to the community.

This includes comedy night, concerts, 'paint and sip' sessions with a glass of wine and a wellbeing cafe where "it's ok not to be  ok".

They recently held a Have I Got Pews For You fundraising night at St Mary with All Souls church in Kilburn.

"We are trying to find creative ways to do things, trying to find a way around things. We still want to be doing them, we still need 
to be doing them."

She said the church "will not be taken over" and instead refurbished.

READ MORE: In the shadow of a church devastated by fire, a community stands defiant

"Because it's a vibrant community we want to expand on what's there - add ramps and access to proper loos.

"We're going to have to raise a huge amount of money to add on top of the insurance. We don't have a target yet as we haven't been
able to get architectures or surveyors to look at it, it's still early but it'll be a huge amount we'll need to raise.

"We don't want to lose the character of the building, just make a better use out of it for the next 175 years."

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