Ecclesiastical Insurance : New photos released by Ecclesiastical reveal devastation following church fire

Click here to view the drone footage

Specialist insurer, Ecclesiastical, has today released new photos showing the devastation caused by a fire at the Church of the Ascension in Lower Broughton, Salford. The photos, taken from above the church roof, show what remains of the Victorian building following the fire that was discovered on the evening of 11 February.

The insurer captured the images while conducting a structural survey of the building to ensure that the site was safe enough for preservation work to begin. A drone was used for the survey, which took close-up photos of the damage sustained during the fire and enabled the engineers to assess the structural integrity of the building.

As the church's insurer, Ecclesiastical representatives were on site immediately following the fire to assess the damage. Their engineers worked alongside the fire and rescue service and the police and local authority to ensure that any actions taken to make the building safe were carried out sympathetically.

Paul Humphris, Church Claims Consultant, at Ecclesiastical, said: "The pictures are a stark reminder of the devastation that fire can cause. Our priority at this point is to secure the site and ensure that the building is structurally robust and to prevent any further damage.

"The drone footage highlighted some areas that need immediate attention so we will now work with our engineers to address this and ensure we reduce the risk of additional damage to the church."

The insurer has also located the church's iconic, brass eagle lectern, which appears to have survived the fire largely intact. Once the church building is made safe, this will be recovered by the insurers, who hope it can be fully restored.

The Reverend Canon David Wyatt, added: "The response of Ecclesiastical has been magnificent. Within two days, surveyors were on site, and work to restore the building is now under way. Relocation of the Church's work and worship has been made possible by the generosity and kindness of our brothers and sisters in the RC Church at Saint Boniface's just four hundred yards away."

Humphris concluded: "It's always difficult for a community to see their church like this and it can be hard to look past the damage caused. However, we have a huge amount of experience in working with churches and will be there to support them every step of the way as we restore this church to its former glory."

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Issued by: Ann-marie Russell External Communications Manager
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Emma Smith, External Communications Manager
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