Hopes fire-hit chapel to be restored in five years

Work to stabilise a fire-damaged Grade II* listed chapel is ongoing after storms and wet weather slowed the first phase of restoration work.

The Junior Seminary Chapel of St Aloysius at the former St Cuthbert's College, County Durham, was seriously damaged in a suspected arson attack in July 2023.

Ushaw, the charity which operates the site, said despite the delay it was looking at the best use of the site "moving forward".

The story of the fire may even be worked into the future of the building, which it is hoped will be restored in the next five years.

Repairs began in June but stabilisation work had to be paused for about four months after owls were found nesting in the roof.

It was thought the first phase would be finished by January, however storms caused additional unstable masonry to fall.

Historic England awarded £400,000 for emergency repair work to try and protect the buildings from further deterioration.

Lucy Jenkins, Ushaw's co-chief executive officer, said the next phase would be to get a permanent roof on the chapel before deciding on the "conservation strategy".

"So much" of the building had survived, she said.

"Despite fire, despite torrential rain pouring through the ceiling and storms."

While parts have been destroyed, it may provide Ushaw with an opportunity to create something "completely new" to go alongside the old by working with contemporary artists.

"It will tell the story," Ms Jenkins said.

"It hasn't been used as a chapel in a school for nearly 50 years and then the fire happens and that becomes part of the story."

Durham Constabulary said an investigation into the cause of the fire had been closed, pending new information, due to "insufficient evidence".

Ushaw is looking at where the conservation work will start before finalising a plan for the building's future.

Ms Jenkins said there was potential for it to host events, concerts or be part of Durham's Lumiere festival.

She said she hoped to put on tours of the building in its "half damaged state" so the community can see the conservation work in action and give their views on its future.

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