THE Trinity Methodist Church in Norton, which was badly hit by fire this week, will be restored to its former glory, its minister has pledged.

The Rev Stewart Young said that while the cost of the work was still unknown, he believed the building - which celebrated its 144th birthday on the day of the fire - was satisfactorily insured.

The blaze caused extensive damage to the building, and was tackled by 30 firefighters from three brigades. But within hours, plans were being made by Mr Young and members of the congregation to switch services and meetings of groups to the nearby Bethel Methodist Church for which Mr Young also has responsibility.

"We have no idea how long the restoration work will take but it will be done," said Mr Young, who spent hours with insurance assessors and forensic experts sifting through charred remains.

Trinity's normal Sunday morning service will transfer to the Bethel church, but evening services will discontinue as that is when the Bethel congregation has a service. The services at the Bethel church will be at 10.30am and this Sunday there will be coffee after the service. Several church organisations and a baby clinic are also being held at the Bethel.

"There was a phenomenal amount of heat damage resulting from the fire, which we believe started in the organ," said Mr Young.

While the interior of the church was extensively damaged despite the work of Malton, Sherburn and Pickering fire brigades, the building structure remained intact.

The blaze started shortly before 3pm on Sunday a few hours after the church had held its annual anniversary service. Fire fighters cut holes in the roof and windows to direct water jets into the building.

Tony Dyer, divisional fire officer, confirmed that a faulty electric motor in the century-old organ was the likely cause of the fire. "The damage inside the building was extensive but we managed to stop it spreading to the roof."

Norton's Commercial Street was closed to traffic while the fire brigades got the blaze under control.

Shocked church-goers arrived for an evening service, unaware of the fire.

Mr Young said: "The church is well insured but the restoration will take a considerable time to complete."

He added that he did not believe the church would be operational again until before the end of the year.

"Everyone has been extremely supportive and helpful in the Norton community as a result of the fire. We have the commitment to carry on and we are looking to redevelop so we can serve the community and the church.

"What we have got now is something we have to work with. It's like we have been given a blank canvas to some degree so we can do some modernisation. This is an opportunity, not a set-back."

Updated: 10:33 Thursday, February 07, 2002