It was a February Monday morning in the 1964. We lived in Oaklands Lodge in Church Street Barrowford. St thomas’s Church was just across the road from us. The three kids slept in the front bedroom facing the Church - my wife and I in the back bedroom.

Friends had been visiting us the night before and we were fairly late to be bed. I got up at about 6.30am to get ready to go to work in Preston.

The kitchen curtains were closed and I was vaguely aware of the sound of some sort of engine running. I had my toast and a cup of tea and drew the curtains and, lo and behold, the church had gone!

During the night a fire had completely destroyed the church.

We learned later that the bells had fallen from the belfry; the roof had collapsed; a fire pump had been located outside our door; neighbours had tried to rouse us but assumed we must be away - neither the children or us heard a thing.

At that time I was friendly with Ken Smith, photographer for the Nelson Leader. He never forgave me for not letting him know. From our bedroom window he would have obtained spectacular fire pictures. The strange thing is I normally waken if a sparrow sneezes but that night I heard nothing.

In the graveyard, alongside what remains of the old church is what looks like a tall tombstone. It is in fact a pinnacle which should have been placed on the clock tower.

This from the Annals of Barrowford:

“In 1839.  A subscription list was opened in Barrowford and neighbourhood, for the purpose of placing four pinnacles on, and a clock in, the tower of Barrowford Church. The appeal for funds being insufficiently responded to, a native of Barrowford offered to present one of the pinnacles, provided the remaining three were contributed elsewhere. 

Believing that such would be the case, he ordered, and had completed, a pinnacle of considerable height. The other three, however, were  not  forthcoming, and in doubt and difficulty what to do, he had his lonely pinnacle placed, where it still stands, on  terra firma, in the churchyard, and lest its history should be forgotten, half-spitefully, half-playfully, inscribed it thus:—
       

In 1839 I should have mounted high.
But, alas ! what is man ?
Poverty  and  discord
Has tied me to the ground
And here I am left alone.”

At some time later, four pinnacles must have been fitted and one from the collapsed tower now stands, rebuilt outside the remains of the church.

 

Edited by - Arfur on 27/04/2011 09:24:58