This is a text-only version of an article first published on Friday, 16 January 2015. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
The Acting Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher has praying for those affected by the fires that destroyed a thatched cottage, a funeral parlour and the South Oxfordshire District Council headquarters this morning. He will be visiting St Mary Magdalene Church in Crowmarsh Gifford at 3. 30pm today for prayers. The Revd Jeremy Goulston, Vicar, said St Mary Magdalene Church in Crowmarsh Gifford would be open throughout Friday (Jan 16) for any villagers or SODC employees/councillors who wanted to drop in to pray and/or light a candle.
It will also be open throughout Saturday (Jan 17). The fires, at a cottage in Roke Marsh and the Chadwicks Funeral Directors along with the council offices in Crowmarsh Gifford, were reported to the emergency services in the early hours of Thursday morning (15 January). The Acting Bishop of Oxfordshire, the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher, (pictured) said: "My sympathies go out to all of the officers and other staff who work for the council.
I greatly value my own relationships with them and know the magnificent job they do around the district and in conjunction with the Vale of White Horse District Council.
This will be a terrible shock to all of them and I will be praying for them at this difficult time. " ;No one was injured in the fires.
Police confirmed that all three fires are being treated as suspicious.