Fire! Fire! Fire!

On the afternoon of Sunday 14th November 1841, the church was almost completely destroyed by fire. This was caused by the overheating of a stove which set fire to one of the box-pews. This spread to the galleries, and the roof was soon ablaze. It is reported by the local newspapers that when the alarm was raised at about 3pm, the Revd. Robert Chatto was very quickly on the scene, "and by his own personal exertions stimulated the inhabitants, who soon mustered in numbers and effectually subdued the flames."

"The Newcastle Chronicle" reported....

"On Sunday afternoon last (14th November) the ancient and beautiful church of Whickham was nearly destroyed by fire. It appears that the flues from the stoves had become overheated, and had set fire to the fittings up to one of the pews, and the conflagration so far gained a head that the flames burnt from the roof.

The Revd. Robert Chatto, the clergyman of the parish endeavoured to gain an entrance to the door, but without effect. The parish engine was procured, but on its arrival it appeared it had been so long out of use, it would not act. A second engine was obtained, but with similar success. It was so damaged as to be useless. The inhabitants at length effected an entrance by breaking in the north window, and by dint of perseverance and the most laudable exertions, the fire was subdued. We understand that about eighty pews were destroyed."

The extensive damage caused to the fabric of the building, made the church unpleasant and unsafe, and so in the following years much restoration was carried out. The north wall of the nave was taken down, and rebuilt with the addition of the second aisle. It was also at this time that the galleries were removed from the church.