The Catholic chaplain at the University of Kent says the community is recovering after a fire destroyed part of its building.
Four fire engines tackled the blaze after being called at 2.30am yesterday morning to St John Stone House in Canterbury.
Three students were housed in the basement of the building. The fire broke out on the top floor and no one was injured.
“The good news is the students are safe and well and no one was hurt,” said Fr Peter Geldard.
“The sad news is the top floor of the building is gone. It was very badly damaged by smoke and fire.”
The students have been rehoused at the Franciscan International Study Centre in Canterbury, where the chaplaincy has Sunday mass.
Fr Geldard said that the fire was likely caused by an electrical fault and that the emergency services had ruled out any malicious cause.
The building was used by the university Catholic society for community Sunday lunches and social events. It also housed a licensed bar, The Barque Inn.
“We always used to have pot-luck lunch after Sunday mass with 70-plus people,” said Fr Geldard.
“We’re going to have to decamp somewhere else.”
The chaplaincy is in the midst of recruiting new members at the university’s Welcome Week and Fr Geldard remained optimistic about the year ahead.
“We’re not daunted, we’ll keep going,” said Fr Geldard.
“Certainly the building will be out of action for this year but we’ll survive on campus. All is possible.”
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