Norfolk police said a criminal investigation which was launched after the blaze at St Mary's Church at Wimbotsham, near Downham Market, identified a male suspect at the time.

But a spokesman said no further action could have been taken against the man, who has not been named, because he died soon after the incident in September, 2019.

Fifty firefighters fought the blaze, which destroyed the roof and interior of the medieval building including a holy table dating from 1638, its pews with their wooden carvings and Norman doors.

While the roof, interior and stained glass windows were destroyed, crews saved the vestry and historic church documents that were kept in a safe.

Scaffolding surrounds the church at Wimbotsham, whih was the scene of a devastating fire in September, 2019 (Image: Chris Bishop)

Firefighters at the scene of the blaze which gutted the church at Wimbotsham (Image: Chris Bishop)

The fire in progress in 2019 (Image: Anne Bloy)

The interior of the church before the fire (Image: Simon Knott)

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The cause of the fire has not been made public until now. The disclosure came as work began on restoring the 12th century building.

Contractors have encased its tower and nave in scaffolding, while work is under way on its new roof.

Inside, specialist conservators are cleaning and restoring stonework before doors and windows destroyed in the blaze and its floor can be replaced.

Churchwardens hope the £2.7m project, which was covered by their insurers, will be completed in time for the church to reopen next Easter.

Parishioners have not commented on the cause of the fire, but some believe it was caused accidentally and do not want to overshadow the restoration project.

It is not known whether the man at the centre of the police investigation was a member of the 30-strong congregation.

The new-build will have running water and toilets installed for the first time, a glass-roofed extension on its south side and will be open plan to allow it to be used for community events as well as services.

How the church will look, with a new extension to the side (Image: Freeland Rees Roberts Architects)

The boarded up shell of the church pictured in 2023 (Image: Chris Bishop)

From left Fiona Graves, Philip Wing and Liz Wing inside the church (Image: Chris Bishop)

The tower of the church surrounded by scaffolding (Image: Chris Bishop)

"We're rebuilding it in a contemporary fashion," said Philip Wing, one of the wardens.

"It was a very traditional church, with fixed pews and a pulpit but we're going to become a community building that's a church."

Mr Wing said the church would also be accessible to all, with a level floor and will generate its own electricity from solar panels on its roof.

Surveying the work in progress, his wife Liz said: "It's been a long, hard slog to get to this. It got knocked on the head by Covid, then the architects and the design team had to get through planning has taken its time but we've finally got a design that should last us for the next few hundred years."

Scaffolding inside the church supporting boards to allow builders to start work on the roof (Image: Chris Bishop)

Firefighters at the scene of the blaze in 2019 (Image: Chris Bishop)

Firefighters at work inside the building (Image: Chris Bishop)

The Wings rushed to the church early on the morning of September 19, 2019, after they heard voices outside their home on the nearby lane which leads to St Mary's, looked out of their window and saw fire engines and hoses outside.

"A neighbour shouted the church was on fire," said Mrs Wing. "We got there just before the roof caved in.

"It's disbelief when you come across something of that nature. But within days, we realised what an opportunity we had to make a new church and community space."

A builder working on the replacement roof (Image: Chris Bishop)

A conservator cleaning the interior of the church (Image: Chris Bishop)

Emma Teale from Skillington Workshop cleaning the inside of the church (Image: Chris Bishop)

Hammer blows now reverberate as builders secure the trusses and beams which will support the new roof.

Inside conservators from Grantham-based specialist restoration firm Skillington Workshop are carefully cleaning stonework blackened by smoke during the fire.

Lead conservator Emma Teale said: "We're doing all the conservation, cleaning and repairs to the stonework, all the windows, all the features of the church.

"I expect we'll be here for the year."

© Eastern Daily Press