One year since fire: St John's working towards rebuild

A lone bell tower is all that stands on the corner of Ranolf and Victoria Sts, the last reminder of a fire which destroyed a church but brought together a community.

It's one year today since fire ravaged St John's Church - and while the site remains empty plans are well under way for its future.

On February 8, 2017 about 5.48pm a fire broke out above the altar, at the heart of the church.

BLAZE: The devastating fire that destroyed St John's Church. Photo/Ben Fraser

Rotorua Daily Post photographer Ben Fraser was one of the first on the scene and said it looked like the church was "burning to the ground".

St John's parishioners stood clutching each other on the side of the road as they watched the massive blaze rip through their beloved church.

Image 1 of 20: Fire at St John's Church in Rotorua. Photo/Ben Fraser

Speculation the fire was deliberately lit were quashed when Rotorua fire risk management officer Stuart Bootten said arson had been ruled out.

It was later found to have been caused by the failure of a set of fluorescent lights.

Minister Ed Masters had not long since locked up and gone home for the night when the call came in to get back to the church.

"It wasn't until I could see the plumes of black smoke that I thought, okay, this is bad," he said.

"By the time I got down there, it was a complete inferno."

The Rotorua Daily Post sat down with Masters this week at the church's temporary home on Fenton St.

"The church community really pooled together, cleaning up and getting this place ready," Masters said.

He said hundreds of people turned out to working bees to make the building suitable, including "scrubbing smoke-damaged cups so they could be used again".

"Our new base was up and running within six weeks of the fire."

Masters said it had been all hands on deck since then communicating with demolition companies, dealing with insurance and creating a committee to decide on a new building.

"We can't give a date yet, but we will rebuild at the site.

"It won't be a like for like rebuild, we have lost so much of the architectural character, but the design will come from consultation with the church and wider community."

He said throughout the consultation process people had reiterated the need for a place the Rotorua community could feel comfortable.

"I think, for us, we seek to help Rotorua because we believe that's what God wants to do. But part of the experience after the fire was realising how loved we are in return.

"It was a huge blessing for us actually."

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With the rebuild being the third iteration of St John's Masters said it would evolve again.

"The building will retain elements of the past, but also of the future as well.

"The bell will ring again."

Masters said the bell held special importance for him.

"I remember my first week at St John's, I rode my bike down to the church.

"I'm not from Rotorua and I came to an intersection and didn't know which way to go, and then I heard the bell ringing."

He said it was important to do the work properly and take their time.

"The building burnt down, but that's not the end of the story and we don't need to be defined by it.

"We are about more than a building and we want to help more and more people find a sense of community and belonging."

St John's community worker Anna White said it had been a journey.

"Our volunteers have soldiered on with the new venue and continued supporting our community through our morning tea and foodbank.

"It's not ideal but we make it work. We all look forward to a new building but our building is only part of us, our community and fellowship is consistent no matter where we meet."

Member of the congregation and former property manager Owen Roberts said the church was fortunate to have a temporary space to call its own.

"For the most part we have been able to operate even without our own church."