![\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/st-andrew-u2019s-church-in-leicester.jpg\")
A fire ripped through St Andrew\u2019s Church in central Leicester overnight | LFRS ![\"St](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785320064_575_st-andrew-u2019s-church-in-leicester.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA fire ripped through a historic church in central Leicester overnight, sending smoke billowing out over the city.<\/p>\n
Footage circulating on social media shows smoke pouring out of the side of St Andrew\u2019s Church, which sits on the corner of Jarrom Street and Gateway Street.<\/p>\n
In one video shared on Snapchat, plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the church’s north transept, with multiple fire engines and police cars outside.<\/p>\n
Later footage on Facebook showed that the church’s roof was partially destroyed by the fire – believed to have started at around 1am.<\/p>\n
That video showed a turntable ladder pouring water onto the church from above, while flames could be seen licking at the inside of the roof.<\/p>\n
Further images shared online show plumes of smoke creeping out into the night sky.<\/p>\n
Locals were urged to shut their doors and windows, but on social media some complained of the smell of smoke and even burning plastic.<\/p>\n
One Reddit user said they could “smell and see it from my flat on other side of the city centre”, with another adding it was “stinking out” the city centre.<\/p>\n
Footage showed the church’s roof was partially destroyed by the fire <\/p>\n
| <\/p>\n
LFRS<\/p>\n
“Oh no that\u2019s downright sad… A church of all things to go up in flames,” another said.<\/p>\n
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service told GB News in an update this morning: “We received multiple calls at 11.17pm yesterday (July 28) to reports of a fire at St Andrews Church on Jarrom Street in Leicester.<\/p>\n
“Crews from Central, Eastern, Western, Wigston, Loughborough, Birstall and Hinckley, including our aerial ladder and turntable ladder platforms, have been tackling this large blaze throughout the night.<\/p>\n
“There have been no casualties and all persons have been accounted for. <\/p>\n
“The roof of the church has been severely damaged by the fire.<\/p>\n
“We have been working with Leicestershire Police, and with Cadent and Western Power to isolate gas and electricity supplies, and several roads in the vicinity are currently closed to traffic.<\/p>\n
“The cause for the fire is not yet known and this remains an ongoing incident at the time of writing (8am).”<\/p>\n
CHURCH FIRES – READ MORE:<\/p>\n
![\"Fire](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/fire-seen-ermeging-from-the-roof-of-st-andrew-s-church.jpg\")
A turntable ladder poured water onto the church from above, while flames could be seen licking at the inside of the roof<\/p>\n
| <\/p>\n
LFRS<\/p>\n
So far, the service has only said there is an “incident on Jarrom Street… sending smoke over the city”.<\/p>\n
St Andrew\u2019s was designed by prolific British architect Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 1860s.<\/p>\n
Gilbert Scott was behind the iconic Midland Grand Hotel at London’s St Pancras Station, the Albert Memorial and the Foreign Office buildings – also in the capital.<\/p>\n
He designed and restored some 800 buildings, primarily churches and chapels, in his lifetime.<\/p>\n
The Leicester blaze comes after a number of fires at churches across Britain.<\/p>\n
A church in Southall, west London, was hollowed out by a large fire in February<\/a>.<\/p>\n Locals were urged to shut their doors and windows<\/p>\n | <\/p>\n LFRS<\/p>\n While Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral was alight in May – with worshippers evacuated by emergency responders<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"St](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785320064_325_st-andrew-u2019s-church-in-leicester.jpg\")