Fire destroys heritage-listed church in London | UK News

A huge fire has destroyed a heritage-listed church in London as nearby residents were urged to keep their windows and doors closed.

Footage shared by the London Fire Brigade shows the blaze engulfing the two-storey St Mark’s Church in St John’s Wood, northwest London.

Eighty firefighters and 12 fire engines were on the scene and motorists were urged to avoid the area.

There have been no reports of any injuries due to the blaze.

Three turntable ladders – including the tallest one in Europe at 64 metres – were used as water towers.

Pic: London Fire Brigade
Image:
Pic: London Fire Brigade

The fire brigade were first alerted to the incident at 11.19pm last night and it was under control by 2:22am this morning.

The cause of the blaze is now under investigation.

The fire was producing a significant amount of smoke in the local area and residents were advised to keep their windows and doors closed.

The National Churches Trust lists St Mark’s as a Grade II Victorian church, containing “stunning” mosaics by the Salviati family as well as highly decorative marble flooring in the chancel.

The Anglican church is located near Abbey Road Studios and Lord’s Cricket Ground, and has links to author Lewis Carroll and Queen Victoria’s son Prince Leopold.

The trust describes it as an “architectural and historical treasure”, which finished construction between 1846 and 1847 in the Gothic style to the design of architect Thomas Cundy Junior.

Crews from North Kensington, Paddington, West Hampstead and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.