By Alison Freeman BBC News Online, London

The first phase of restoration work will cost about �6m

According to vicar the Reverend Robert Titley the lack of wind that fine June day in 2000 meant the flames stayed inside the grounds and left neighbours' homes untouched.

And despite the blaze ripping off the roof and tearing the core out of the Grade 1 listed landmark in Rosendale Road, West Dulwich, the future is bright.

Almost four years later the first phase of work, costing about �6m, has begun on the mammoth and specialist task of restoring it.

For some it would be hard to be positive in the face of such adversity, but Mr Titley believes the devastation in some ways benefited the church and the community.

"It's rather like when an aunt dies, people rally round," he said, "We've had so much support."

People who have never come to church were as shocked by the fire as any of the congregation Rev Robert Titley The restoration in pictures

Mr Titley was woken in the early hours of a Friday morning by a passer-by who knocked on the door of the neighbouring vicarage after calling the fire brigade.

The vicar and locals could only watch as firefighters battled the blaze which was started by an electrical fault.

It threw thick smoke into the air and sent scalded pieces of bibles and hymn books for miles around.

"What was rather moving was that people who have never come to church were as shocked by the fire as any of the congregation," Mr Titley said.

"It made us realise what the building meant to people, whether they passed it on their way to work everyday, or could see it from their own home, or if they came to cubs or brownies here - even if they weren't a member of the congregation.

Mr Titley says he looked for a benefit in the tragedy

"It says something about the power of buildings - even if you never go into them."

The church was built in 1888 from a design by George Fellowes-Prynne.

It was meant to be a third longer in length but because money for the Victorian project ran out in 1889.

So Mr Titley says current work on the west end of the building, which was never properly completed, will improve the look.

"It used to look like a kind of warehouse - not very welcoming. In the 1970s a porch was added, but once again it was done with little money."

'Series of villages'

After the fire, the church had to host services in the local school, neighbouring churches and even the front rooms of the members of the congregation.

And standing inside the imposing shell of the building it is hard to believe that they managed to get back into the church and run some services from the crypt for a few years.

Mr Titley said: "The idea that London is made out of a series of villages really does seem true.

"We've had so much help from people letting us use their halls free of charge and the sense of community is really strong."

The fire is part if the church's story and some of the stone and brick looks rather beautiful because it is damaged Rev Robert Titley

And this notion of pulling together continues with �200,000 of the �1m needed for the second phase of the project having already being raised.

This will include repairing art work and glass.

But not all of the fire damage is to be repaired.

Mr Titley explained: "The fire is part if the church's story and some of the stone and brick looks rather beautiful because it is damaged.

"Correcting it would be a bit like having unnecessary cosmetic surgery just because you are middle-aged!"