Raging blaze guts a church,but cannot touch the faithful
Scorched, tattered pages of the Bible littered the streets near 32nd and Berks streets, in Strawberry Mansion, yesterday where firefighters had battled a six-alarm blaze that gutted a historic church.
Scorched, tattered pages of the Bible littered the streets near 32nd and Berks streets, in Strawberry Mansion, yesterday where firefighters had battled a six-alarm blaze that gutted a historic church.
All that was left of the Prince of Peace Baptist Church was concrete and rubble, but its congregation of about 100, some of whom come from as far as New Jersey, say its ministry will not die.
"It hurts but this will definitely make us stronger. There's no doubt about that," said member Pam Gray on a soaked, nearby street where thick smoke permeated the air.
"The church itself is just a building, but we are a body of believers," said associate pastor Darryl Cook.
Fire erupted at the church, built in 1903 and formerly the William Stokley Elementary School, shortly before 8 a.m., said Executive Fire Chief Daniel Williams.
Just before 9 a.m., the fire was up to six alarms and residents spilled into the streets to watch the commotion.
"It's tore apart," said Leticia Baskerville, a resident who belongs to the church with her daughters.
"This church was a large part of what this community was for many reasons," said Baskerville as she placed a scarf over her mouth to keep from breathing the smoky stench.
Baskerville said the Rev. Robert Shipman, lead pastor who also owns the church, is a pillar of the community who always looks for ways to support the members and the surrounding community.
"Anything that was going on in the community, he was there," said Baskerville, standing at the side of the church behind yellow tape. "Whether it was teaching conflict resolution or offering kids the chance to participate in after-school programs to get them off the streets, he did that."
Suddenly, as Baskerville was speaking, the front of the church collapsed. Her eyes grew wide and she stepped back from flying embers.
No one was injured in the blaze, but three firefighters were taken to Roxborough Memorial Hospital and treated for minor injuries, Williams said.
Five nearby homes were destroyed, said Denise Venuti Free, a Red Cross spokeswoman.
"Burning embers from the church landed on the roof, destroying the top floor of two homes and causing heavy smoke and water damage to the other three," Venuti Free said. "None of the residents are allowed to stay."
Somehow, Shanda Daniels was spared. She had just moved into her house next to the church Tuesday night. When she came home from work yesterday morning, a firefighter told her the fire had skipped over her home. Her next door neighbor's house was, also, miraculously untouched.
The five homes that were affected were left in shambles: a mess of broken glass, blackened window panes - and distraught residents.
"My heart can't stop singing, 'Thank you God,' " Daniels said, as she nervously puffed a cigarette.
"Thank you for favoring me."
Later in the day, pastor Shipman surveyed the damage as firefighters began to roll up their hoses and pack their trucks.
"It just doesn't seem believable," Shipman said. "I always looked at that church like a fortress, it didn't seem destructible.
"It doesn't destroy us, though. We know that God has a place for us."
Shipman said that the congregation will meet to determine what it can do and where the group will meet, pray and rebuild.
The Red Cross provided food, clothing and financial assistance to the nine members of three displaced families, Venuti Free said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the fire marshal. *
