The investigation into the suspicious fire that destroyed St. James Anglican Church just north of Roseneath has been completed at the scene on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.
Alnwick/Haldimand Township firefighters received the call for a structure fire at the church at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, 2019.
But even before they arrived, a photo taken by the person who called 9-1-1 and shared with Today’s Northumberland shows the church was enveloped in flames and lost.
Due to three previous suspicious fires Alnwick/Haldimand Fire Chief Mark Diminie was taking no chances and called the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office.
Throughout the day on Wednesday, April 10, 2019,Ontario Fire Marshal investigator Michael Rushton sifted through the debris looking for any sign of what caused the fire that destroyed the historic church that was built in 1863.
A OPP Forensic Identification officer was also on scene taking photos, while a canine unit was searching the area for any evidence.
Detectives from the Northumberland OPP Crime Unit were interviewing witnesses and going door-to-door canvassing the area.
Ross Stevenson who is one of two Warden’s for the church who stood by the scene and waited for the investigators to be completed before taking his first walk around the former church with a insurance adjuster.
“There is a whole array of emotions,” said Stevenson.
“There is anger of course, lots of people shedding a few tears.”
The bell to the church fell to the basement and a large piece appears to have broken off. A bible was found among the ruins that Stevenson said is very old. It’s burned around the edges, but the writing is still clearly visible.
Stevenson has been attending St. James Anglican Church for 20-years, but he says there are many others that have been attending much longer.
“There are a few members of the pioneer family that are still attending. It’s very deep rooted in the community.”
The inside of the church had stained glass windows donated by families over many years in memory of their ancestors, a old bell in the tower that would ring every Sunday by hand, original pews.
“You don’t find buildings built like this and to ever try and reproduce it the way it existed prior to the fire would cost a fortune.”
Stevenson said the congregation of approximately 15 members hopes to rebuild at this point.
“This will be talked over with the hierarchy of the church in Toronto. But the people here are certainly willing to contribute and make a go of it.”
“We’re already getting e-mails and texts from people who never attended here who are willing to donate to the reconstruction of the church.”
At this point there is no confirmation the fire was arson, but with three suspicious fires over the past several weeks, the community is feeling uneasy.
“It took 156 years to get this church to this point. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this from families for many, many years and to see it disappear in an hour a half is pretty tragic and it cuts pretty deep.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
