A RECTOR has hailed a quick-thinking parishioner as a “Good Samaritan” for saving an iconic Friezland church from serious damage in a fire.
Tony Littlewood, a retired pharmacist, fought his way through thick, choking smoke to extinguish a blaze in the roof at Christ Church.
And Saddleworth CE team rector, Father Christopher Halliday, said: “If it had not been for Tony’s quick thinking actions we could have lost part of the church completely.
“He really is a Good Samaritan. We are so grateful – he certainly saved the day.”
Tony, 65, is the church key holder and lives next to the historic 165-year-old building at Church Road.
He explained he heard the church alarm ringing as he returned to his home after talking to a roofer carrying out work on the church.
He said: “The alarm kept ringing and I got the keys and returned and opened the church door.
“I couldn’t believe it. The church was thick with smoke and I could hardly see. I called the emergency services and the church wardens.
“I made my way down the main aisle and saw an orange glow from the lady chapel. I could see flames licking round the roof at the top.
“I grabbed a fire extinguisher and squirted a powerful jet at the flames before running outside and passing the extinguisher by ladder to the roofer.
“Then I returned to the church, got the second extinguisher and put out the flames as the firefighters arrived.”
He added: “Thankfully, the organ and the church interior was untouched. The damage has been confined to the roof.
“The fire fighters did a marvellous job securing the scene and covering the roof.
“More than £100,000 had been spent on the church. It’s a beautiful building and I’m just so pleased it’s still intact,” he added.
Fr Halliday declared: “Tony did a wonderful job. Things could have been much more serious if he had not moved so quickly.”
One of the church wardens, Josephine Johnson, added: “Thanks to Tony the church was quickly able to return to normal.
“We were able to hold a coffee event in the afternoon and other scheduled events won’t be affected.”
A spokesperson for Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were called to the blaze in the church roof at 10.35am.
“Crews from Oldham and Mossley attended and firefighters in breathing apparatus tackled the fire using hose reels and a ladder. They were on the scene around two-and-a-half hours,” she said.
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