Council begin work to secure fire hit St Simon's Church

The stability of the remaining facade at St Simon’s Catholic Church in Partick was “very much in question” after the devastating blaze which destroyed most of the building.

Council workers have been helping to make the fire-hit site safe before handing it back over to the Archdiocese.

Calls have been made by local politicians to restore what was Glasgow’s third-oldest Catholic Church after the fire in the early hours of Wednesday.

Glasgow’s building standards team and Archdiocese representatives have carried out “immediate safety works”, reducing its height to that of the side walls.

Most of the church’s interior and roof have been destroyed by the fire. The blaze also spread to a room in the adjoining chapel house, but that building is “essentially intact”.

A council spokesman said the Archdiocese was “in position to take on responsibility for the remaining structure”, and said that, as the owner, it will decide on the church’s future.

Once the building was stabilised, workers were able to reconnect the local power supply and move evacuated local residents back into their homes.

Contractors employed by the Archdiocese are continuing to do other safety work, such as removing debris and remaining areas of the damaged roof.

Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney said raised concerns over “hasty attempts” to demolish the church.

“The facade has already been reduced on the western side facing Partick Bridge Street,” he said.

“Heritage accredited engineers should be commissioned to ensure maximum preservation of the building remains.”

Currently, it isn’t believed the height of the building will need to be reduced further, but Archdiocese representatives will carry out further inspections, the council spokesman said. They will then liaise with the council when more information is known.

A police drone has been deployed at the church to assist the fire service with its investigation into the fire.

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