RISING FROM THE ASHES INSURER MOBILISES TO HELP REBUILD HISTORIC SALFORD CHURCH

[ AT 11.20PM on Sunday 12 February 2017 a fire broke out at the Grade Two-listed Church of the Ascension in Lower Broughton, Salford, Greater Manchester. A total of six crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service battled for hours to contain the blaze, which ultimately devastated the building.

The much-loved church is considered a key component of Lower Broughton’s identity and plays an important role in both spiritual and social terms as an inclusive community space and is accessible to all.

It had recently undergone a £250,000 restoration project which people in the community had helped to fund. A Paradise Garden had been created aimed at delivering practical skills training, ‘learning by growing’ activities and work experience for volunteers within the community: greatly improving their confidence, skill set and employability, as well as providing a sense of collaboration, shared ownership and social connection. There was a native species cottage garden, organic vegetable plots, fruit trees and lawns. There were also bee hives producing honey.

Following the fire, many members of the local community gathered outside the church building to survey the damage, some reduced to tears.

Dealing with the immediate aftermath…and beyond

Immediately following the fire, the church’s insurers Ecclesiastical carefully assembled a team of experts to attend the site as soon as it was authorised by the fire service.

The local authority was concerned about the structure being unsafe and had sent a machine to demolish parts of it. Ecclesiastical’s staff were able to work with them to assess and determine what could be made safe, so nothing was demolished unnecessarily. They even managed to take the opportunity to remove the cross from what remained of the remaining roof so it could be restored and reinstated. Drone technology was used to assist structural engineers with the initial assessment of the structure.

After the initial priorities it was time to move on to what the restoration would look like. What should be kept? What could be modified to make the space fit for purpose in the future?

Ecclesiastical’s specialist claims consultant Paul Humphries explained: “It’s not just the building work that is complex. We work closely with the church and other interested parties to ensure that the rebuild is undertaken in a way that preserves as much of the history of the church as possible. However, it is also important to consider the current and future needs of the church and wider community: it’s about reaching a solution that works for everyone.”

It’s often the little touches that mean so much to a church and community that Ecclesiastical take the time to understand. Helping them access the apples from the fruit trees when they were ripe; moving the precious beehives to another location until they were able to be moved back home again was greatly appreciated by the church community.

The project was split into two phases and Ecclesiastical ensured carefully selected experts were appointed to complete the works.

Phase one: the exterior

Repair work began in October 2018. Specialist architects and a civil engineering firm were appointed to work on the first phase alongside the construction company who would lead phase one of the £2.46m structural works.

The work was preceded by a blessing ceremony led by Canon David Wyatt and the Bishop of Manchester, Rt Revd David Walker.

Phase one included reinstatement of the structural elements of the building, such as columns, roof structures and slate coverings, stone and brick repairs, stained glass window and window guard replacements and ceiling finishes.

The project's most challenging elements included replacing the columns, which were severely damaged in the fire. Internal scaffolding was needed to provide long-term stability to the remaining structure, but it wasn’t safe to enter the building due to the stone columns being significantly weakened by the fire – the eponymous Catch-22 situation.

It needed complex engineering solutions. A bespoke fabricated cage was lowered into the building to provide a safe place from which the columns could be sprayed with concrete. That work could only be carried out when low wind speeds meant it was safe to proceed. The concrete increased the mass of the columns, providing sufficient stability to the walls above to allow the internal scaffolding to be safely installed. Further engineering input was required to design a system whereby the high-level walls could be supported while the columns were removed. A supporting framework was carefully moved into position, while precision monitoring was carried out to identify any slight movement in the building. The columns were then removed two at a time and replaced by central steel columns to take the load, which were then clad with stone.

Phase two: the interior

The second phase began in September 2021, with a £2.5m internal refit of the church building.

As well as focusing on preserving the historical features of the church, as part of the restoration Ecclesiastical work with customers to build-in modernisations to enable them to make the space serve the requirements of today’s use.

In the case of the Church of the Ascension, heavy pews were replaced by movable chairs. The floor was levelled and toilets and kitchens were added to provide better accessibility for all. The restoration also provided an opportunity to think about improving sustainability. An innovative air-source underfloor heating system and motion sensor LED lights were installed to help the church improve its energy efficiency.

The eagle lectern was seen as a real symbol of the church: a connection to the past and a survivor of the fire, albeit a damaged one. Its restoration was particularly special to everyone.

Restoration of the building was completed by the end of September last year, with the first service taking place in early October. On Saturday 19 November the church and community came together to mark the completion of the £5m restoration project with a rededication ceremony. The Revd Canon Falak Sher, Incumbent of The Ascension, declared: “The Church of the Ascension is risen from the ashes now after five years. The presence of the church at the heart of the community is uplifting for the people of Lower Broughton. I am very pleased to be able to serve the people of God here.” q

• To find out more about this wonderful restoration project just visit www.ecclesiastical.com/ascension or you can visit Ecclesiastical at CRE Midlands on Stand P29.