THE roof of the hall at Saint Peter’s Church in Addingham was destroyed in a mystery fire last night.

Church Rector Andrew Tawn praised the fire service for their ‘incredibly fast response’ to the alarm call which was made at around 9pm.

Mr Tawn, who lives in Low Mill Lane, said he received a call from a parishioner living opposite the hall to say that there was a fire. He ran as fast as he could to the building a quarter of a mile away to find the blaze well alight and the first of three fire crews already there.

He said: “Flames were pouring out of the roof and it looked as though the fire had started in the loft somewhere.”

This morning fire investigators were on the scene trying to establish the cause of the blaze but Mr Tawn said he did not believe it had been started deliberately.

He said: “My first concern was that it was arson or vandalism but I am certain that is not the case. That is a relief to know - accidents happen.”

He said that as he and other onlookers watched the fire-fighters at work people were saying it was a disaster but he said he did not agree.

“It isn’t a disaster. It is going to be an inconvenience for a few months and we are insured. The most important thing is that no one was in there,” said Mr Tawn.

He said that around one-and-a-half hours before the blaze began, a group of children had been using the hall.

He said: “There is nothing damaged that cannot be replaced as far as I can see. In the Bible, the word church means people, not buildings.”

The fire looked to have started above the former entrance hall to the building. Before the fire started the building was in the process of being extended to include an office.

Now, according to the church architect, it will not be back in use until Christmas. The roof will need to be replaced and there is extensive smoke and water damage to the inside of the building. Mr Tawn said the amount of damage had not yet been estimated but would include the cost of replacing a steel girder which had buckled in the heat.

At the height of the blaze, fire crews from Ilkley, Keighley and Silsden attended the scene. The hall will be completely out of action for the next few months but, already, the minister at Addingham Methodist Church has offered the use of their hall as a substitute.

Around seven groups use St Peter’s Hall, ensuring that it is in use every day. A Macmillan Cancer Charity Coffee Morning planned for this morning had to be hastily rearranged at the Rectory and church volunteers were stationed at the church hall to direct people to the new venue.