The site where a historic church was gutted by a huge blaze is still smouldering this morning after 80 firefighters battled for close to four hours to get the fire under control overnight.
Yellow flames could be seen lighting up the sky along with billowing smoke from St Mark's Church in St John's Wood, in north London after the fire broke out at 11.19pm on Thursday.
It took hold of the historic building in Hamilton Terrace overnight as a dozen fire engines were dispatched from around the area in a bid to bring the blaze under control.
The defiant vicar of the church has spoken out after it was destroyed in the inferno, saying: "We are still here for the community.”
Vicar Kate Harrison, who took over St Mark’s congregation in 2015, said she was evacuated from her home in the vicarage and could only watch as the flames took hold.
“The firefighters were absolutely amazing and they worked so hard. I’m really touched by the amount of effort they put in for this building, they were so kind and wonderful," she told the Evening Standard.
She said she was "absolutely heartbroken" at the loss of the building which had served the Christian community for 175 years.
“It’s a wonderful beacon of hope and to see it suffer in crushing devastation is completely heartbreaking," she said.
“But it is a building, not the church. The church is the people and our work will carry on, our love will carry on.
She said they were still there for the community.
The London Fire Brigade tweeted around 3am to report the fire had been brought under control.
There were no reports of injuries and fire investigators were now at the scene to begin their investigation into the cause of the blaze, they added.
The brigade had earlier said: "Twelve fire engines and around 80 firefighters have been called to a church fire on Hamilton Terrace in St John's Wood.
"The whole of the two-storey building is alight.
"The fire is producing a significant amount of smoke in the local area and residents are advised to keep their windows and doors closed.
"Firefighters are using two of the Brigade's new 32-metre turntable ladders and a 64-metre turntable ladder (the tallest in Europe) at the scene as water towers, to get water on to the building externally.
"The Brigade's 999 Control Officers have taken almost 30 calls to the blaze.
"The Brigade was called at 2319. Fire crews from North Kensington, Paddington, West Hampstead and surrounding fire stations are at the scene.
"The cause of the fire is not known at this time."
Westminster City Council tweeted early on Friday morning to say all residents had been accounted for.
It stated: "There has been a fire at St Marks Church, Hamilton Terrace (NW8) which is under control. All residents are safe and accounted for. Please note there will be local road closures into late morning."
The National Churches Trust had listed St Mark’s as a grade II Victorian church, describing it as an “architectural and historical treasure” which finished construction between 1846 and 1847.
It contained “stunning” mosaics by the Salviati family as well as highly decorative marble flooring in the chancel, with the overall Gothic-styled design the work of architect Thomas Cundy Junior.
Many people had taken to social media to comment on the fire.
One person wrote: "There is currently a huge fire at St Mark's Church in Maida Vale/St John's Wood. Lots of police presence and fire engines attempting to put out the fire. Hoping everyone is okay."
Another also tweeted: "I hope nobody is hurt," and a further said: "It is so sad."
The fire brigade also tweeted a video of the turntable ladders stating: "One of our 64-metre turntable ladders (TL) being used at the scene of the church fire in #StJohnsWood. The TL is equivalent to the highest ladder in service across Europe."
It had reinforced on social media for people to keep windows and doors closed due to the "heavy smoke".
"Firefighters are tackling a fire at a church in #StJohnsWood. The blaze is producing heavy smoke in the surrounding area - if you live locally please keep your windows and doors closed," the fire service wrote.
