2004 Fire
From Deeanna Alford <>
Date Fri, 21 May 2004 16:10:15 -0400
04245 May 21, 2004 Fire guts historic New York church Pittsford church constructed in 1861 is almost a total loss by Alexa Smith LOUISVILLE - A fire destroyed the interior of First Presbyterian Church in Pittsford, NY, on May 20, after lightning struck the roof of the historic, 1,100-member church. Flames 15 feet high lapped at the church, whose roof collapsed and whose 143-year-old sanctuary was gutted. Firefighters were at the scene through the night. Pittsford is on the outskirts of Rochester, NY. According to The Democrat and Chronicle, a Rochester newspaper, Assistant Fire Chief Scott Joeger said the sanctuary is a total loss. Firefighters had limited access to the sanctuary, which was built in the 19th century and is registered as a historic site. "The roof burned, fell in and destroyed the interior of the sanctuary," the Rev. Bruce Boak, the church's pastor, reported Friday morning. "We're hoping to save the walls. The stained glass, some of it is just gone. We're hoping to save some of it, too." The balcony - which supported the organ and the choir loft - also collapsed. Three pews dating to 1861 may be salvageable, Boak said. The brick walls are standing, as well as the church's tower and spire, the tallest in Pittsford. "Now we have to figure out what to do," Boak said. "People will pull together." When the electrical storm began about 8 o'clock Thursday night, the choir, the associate pastor and several Stephen ministers were in the building. No one was hurt. "The choir rehearsal was punctuated by a loud boom when the lightening hit," said Boak. "They evacuated the building and the automatic alarm system alerted the fire department." The associate pastor, the Rev. Carrie Mitchell, led a midnight prayer service on the church grounds for 30 members who stayed while firefighters worked to contain the blaze. "That was moving," said Dick Crawford, a trustee and a longtime member of First Church. "We all stood holding hands. Last night was a night of big emotion. Today it is all sinking in. Now there's a lot of activity going on." First Church's trustees and session will meet tonight. The first item on the agenda is where to worship on Sunday. Genesee Valley Presbytery is already collecting "loaner" chalices and plates so that the congregation can celebrate Communion when it gathers. The Rev. Edie Gause, executive of the Presbytery of Genesee Valley, said the borrowed items will help First church worshippers "feel the love of their sibling churches all around them." First was a Congregational church when it was founded in 1809, according Crawford, the church historian. He said the congregation moved to the current site in 1826. The present structure was built in 1861 and consecrated in 1863. Crawford, who said his wife, Martha, grew up in the church, said: "I was there until about 1:30 this morning. "She was a confirmand here. We were married here. All three of the children were confirmed here. This church has been a part of our life for the last 40 years. More than that, for Martha." Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is sending $10,000 to help meet the congregation's immediate needs, according to Stan Hankins, associate for U.S. disaster response. First church has been a supporter of the disaster-relief program of the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, which provides Bibles, hymnals and other resources to churches in need. Gause said expressions of comfort may be sent to her email address: egause@pbygenval.org. To subscribe or unsubscribe, please send an email to pcusanews-subscribe-request@halak.pcusa.org or pcusanews-unsubscribe-request@halak.pcusa.org To contact the owner of the list, please send an email to pcusanews-request@halak.pcusa.org More information in the FireFighters report