Images from a Fire

Featuring photographs of the fire and aftermath, along with artworks of the old building, the Images from a Fire exhibition attracted 53 people on Friday 28th May 2010 to the St Barnabas Rectory.

Photographs exhibited by local photographers Rowena Whittle and Allan Pidgeon were generously donated to raise funds for the rebuilding of Barneys. Their images captured the reality of the fire and the beauty of the building as a burnt ruin.

The exhibition also featured paintings and drawings by former Barneys’ members Fiona Pfennigwerth, Dianne Gee, Rachel Ellis and Jess Smith. Their wonderful artworks were all done for specific occasions but now they serve as remembrances of the original Barneys building. Also on display was the remains of the plaque to Mark Vaughan from 1891 and a collection of singed cheque books which survived the fire in the office safe and which still give off a strong smell evocative of that fiery morning.

The model of the new Barneys building was also on display, giving visitors the opportunity to see a miniature of the new modern facilities that are planned.

The exhibition continued on Sunday 30th May for Barneys members, with an additional 30 attending.

It was exciting for Barneys members to learn that, following the demolition, a couple from Londonderry purchased sandstone from the old church to build a part of their new home. They intend to feature the word Eternity above the new fireplace, in tribute to the conversion of Arthur Stace at Barneys in the 1920s.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you.” 1 Peter 3:4