A church warden has spoken of how a Norwich church has been overwhelmed with community support and its hall, devastated by fire, is set to reopen in September, as a 16-year old from west Norwich was sentenced for the arson attack.
The teenage arsonist, who set fire to St Anne’s Church hall in Earlham last February causing £210,000 of damage, was spared a custodial sentence and given a youth rehabilitation order lasting 24 months and ordered to pay £315 in costs by Norwich Youth Court on Tuesday, because of “previous good character, vulnerability and a supportive family”.
St Anne’s church warden, Christine Moreton, told the Norwich Evening News that she expected the hall to re-open in September after extensive repair work.
She said the insurer had covered the fire damage, but a £10,000 loan from the Diocese of Norwich and fundraising efforts were also needed to upgrade certain areas of the building.
“It was all quite heart-breaking at the time,” she said. “But we have had to move on. We have had to raise our won money and get a loan, but we are on the way.”
Article extracts from EveningNews24
Pictured above the devastated at Anne’s Church hall in Earlham, Norwich.
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