Sheffield Evening Telegraph – Tuesday 02 October 1917
Gas Explosion at Swinton Church
Last night the verger of the Swinton Parish Church, William Bates, entering the West porch, struck her light, and was immediately thrown down by the explosion of considerable escape of gas.
The explosion did damage the porch, bringing down the ceiling and injuring the door, but it was prevented by the inner doors from reaching the nave.
Bates was rather burned about the hands and face and was attended at his lodgings almost immediately by Dr. Johnstone.