St Bart's Church, Sydenham
Arson Attack

The Church was hit by arsonists on Friday morning 16th February 1996. The damage was considerable, but the structure is intact.

The fire which was spotted at 06:55 caused chaos in South London as Westwood Hill was closed off. About a dozen fire appliances arrived very quickly and were able to save the building.

The intruders ransacked the building and piled furniture, books etc into a pile in the nave and set fire to it. The flames were licking the roof when the fire brigade broke in. It burnt a 10' x 10' hole in the floor and set light to a coffin in a sealed off vault in the crypt - which the London Fire Brigade had trouble locating and putting out. So someone buried in 1850 was cremated in 1996!

The intruders also targetted the Traidcraft stall - which helps third world co-operatives to trade fairly with the Western economies. This was burnt to a cinder taking with it several thousand pounds worth of the third world's hard work.

looking through the smoke

the hole burnt into the floor

traidcraft's display units

We are obviously very upset at the sad people who have caused this pointless damage. We were just recovering from a burglary two weeks earlier in which we lost our old oak furniture. But the hard work of the many who came to clean the church on the Saturday meant we could go-ahead with normal services and the planned baptism on Sunday.

Finally thanks to the London Fire Brigade. Their prompt action saved the building