Reverend’s house in Batley struck by lightning

Jun 24 2009 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Reverend’s house in Batley struck by lightning

AN EX-PRIEST’S house was damaged by an ‘act of God’ when a massive lightning bolt blew a gaping hole in the roof.

But the freak strike narrowly missed Ian Gardner’s life’s work – more than a dozen boxes of Bibles translated into Nigerian that were due to be shipped abroad.

The Rev Gardner, who used to be an Anglican minister, no longer lives in the house at Green Close in Batley.

But his son-in-law, Andrew Wood – a pastor at City Evangelical Church in Leeds – uses one of the upstairs bedrooms as an office.

He said: “Had I been sat at my desk, I probably wouldn’t be talking to you now.

“The fire brigade said the damage was like a bullet wound – the lightning caused some damage going in one side of the roof but even more coming out the other side.

“We were meant to be having a church group meeting in the house a bit later. It was a good job no-one was there at the time.”

Mr Wood, 43, was at home when the lightning strike – classed by insurers as an act of God – happened at about 6.15pm on Monday.

He said: “We heard what sounded like a massive explosion. There was a phenomenal bang and a flash.

“I was checking to see that everything was OK when a neighbour came across and said that the house had been hit.