May says church bells across England will ring out in solidarity with France after Notre Dame fire

The bells of Westminster Abbey rang out on Tuesday in solidarity with France after the devastating fire that gutted Notre Dame Cathedral, Theresa May said.

The Prime Minister offered UK assistance to France to help rebuild ‘one of the most beautiful buildings in the world’ following Monday’s blaze that horrified the world.

Mrs May, a practicing Christian, said that the images of the Catholic masterpiece on fire were ‘truly heart-rending’.

As well as the bell-ringing on Tuesday evening, bells will ring out across England on Thursday in solidarity with a building which is ‘a symbol of France and the French people, and cherished across the globe’.

Mrs May said: ‘President (Emmanuel) Macron has pledged to rebuild the cathedral and I have conveyed to him that the UK will support this endeavour however we can.

The moment Notre Dame’s spire began to collapse as distraught Parisians watching the catastrophe let out a collective cry of disbelief at seeing it fall on Monday evening

The wreckage of Notre Dame is seen today with charred debris scattered across the floor but a statue of Christ descending from the cross apparently still intact at the altar 

The bells rang out on Tuesday evening at Westminster Abbey in central London, which bears a resemblance to Notre Dame with its twin towers at one end

‘As we saw last night in the swift and heroic action of the first responders, France has huge professionalism in dealing with emergencies of this kind. I pay tribute to the firefighters and all those involved.

‘When it comes to the task of rebuilding, French craftsmen and women are among the finest in the world. 

‘As they prepare to embark on this daunting task, we stand ready to offer any UK experience and expertise that could be helpful in the work that lies ahead to restore this magnificent cathedral.’

Westminster Abbey confirmed that the bells would ring for an hour earlier on Tuesday and that it would be donating its Easter Day collection to the Catholic diocese of Paris.

The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, said: ‘The terrible fire yesterday in Paris has for the time being devastated one of the greatest cathedrals of Europe. 

‘Its 850 year history has seen Notre Dame withstand revolutionary change and world wars. 

‘Now it seems it has been laid low by an accidental fire during renovation works.

‘That this should happen at the time of year when Christians focus on the passion and death of Christ seems strange and sad.  The Church lives the passion. 

‘But the great cathedral will rise again, just as Christians everywhere will next Sunday on Easter Day celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.’