Up in flamesJanuary 22nd, 2007 @ 7:01 am
When I was growing up my family and I attended church services in a beautiful old church house. It had been built in 1913 and was simply beautiful. It didn’t look like the other church buildings around the area, and I loved that part about it.
My senior year of high school our congregation was relocated to a new church house. Our old building had been scheduled for demolition. I don’t remember being upset by this. I think was excited for a fresh new building with new hymnals and softer pews. Shortly after high school graduation my family moved a few towns away. I never thought about the old church house again, except when I would be visiting friends in the town and would see that the old church was still there. I figured it was empty and they just hadn’t gotten around to the demo yet.
While visiting my family last week I picked up the local paper to catch up on the latest small town news. You know, who’s getting married, who’s having babies, who’s having babies with whose husband. (Small towns are gold mines when it comes to stuff like this!) On the cover I saw a picture of the beautiful old church house and instantly the memories started flowing.
Apparently some vandals had started the church on fire back in the summer, and I just hadn’t heard about it. Prior to starting the fire they had vandalized the church with fire extinguishers, broke doors and smashed televisions. And then, I guess because that wasn’t enough, they started it on fire. From the outside of the building you couldn’t see any damage. But the inside was a mess, not only from the fire but from the fire retardants and smoke.
Upon reading more about the fire, I read that instead of demolishing the church back in the 90’s, they had spent 1.5 million dollars to remodel it. In 1998 the church had been reopened for use.
Less than 10 years ago.
1.5 million.
This was money that had been donated. Not to mention the original cost to build it back in 1913. It makes my heart hurt to think about people going without, so that they could donate their money and time for a beautiful church house.
My Mom and I began talking about what we remembered about the old church. It was surprising how little she remembered. I, on the other hand, remembered everything. I remember the elevator that was added when a handicapped kid started to attend services there. I remember the balcony that was never used. I even remember the glass block windows. It was the first time I had ever seen glass blocks and I feel in love with them. So much that every house we ever build will have glass blocks somewhere in the house.
I remember skipping Sunday school and walking the halls with the other youth. I remember the glassed in room where you could take your fussy baby, but still enjoy the service. I remember the beautiful wood pews and pulpit. I remember the stage where the youth performed many skits and performances. I remember.
I especially remember the beautiful original oil painting of the Garden of Eden that hung above the choir seats. If I close my eyes I can picture it perfectly in my mind. The painting wasn’t damaged in the fire. It will be moved to a museum.
I don’t get it. Why do people do damage like this? I mean, its one thing to break into a church to steal. But then why would you start a fire? What do you gain from that? I can’t stop thinking about. I can’t stop thinking about the blood, sweat and tears that went into this church house. I can’t stop thinking about my own time spent there.
It has been decided that the church won’t be remodeled again. It would cost too much. The congregations that met there will continue going to other church houses until a new building can be built.
I’m betting the new church house won’t have the same chapel with an arched ceiling, stained glass windows, an authentic pipe organ, beautiful glass blocks, or a balcony. It won’t have my memories.
Stupid vandals.
Random
Erika
said,
January 22, 2007 at 5:02 pm
It is so awful. You’re right, especially because so many people gave that money out of their own hands (all vandalism is wrong, but let’s face it, we’re not talking about a county bond or multinational corporation that financed it). My in-laws’ church is trying to raise money and it’s so fraught.
I find it so curious that you call it a “church house”. Is this what everyone calls it? (Like here we would call the building a “church”, but also the congregation/activities/etc. is “church”, so it’s interesting to me that you make the distinction.)
CPA Mom
said,
January 22, 2007 at 6:00 pm
IMHO, I think a lot of fires are started to cover other crimes. So maybe they were afraid they had left evidence from their earlier vandalism? Or maybe they are just asshats. Yeah, that’s it.
p.s. what religion were you raised in? just curious.
goldmoon
said,
January 22, 2007 at 6:26 pm
I know, I have a hard time understanding this, too. There’s been a rash of fires here lately, including a few deaths. People suck.
Lizzy
said,
January 22, 2007 at 7:25 pm
I think it’s just plain too bad. And I think vandalizing is just plain sissy. Vandalizing a church? Double sissy.
meritt
said,
January 22, 2007 at 7:36 pm
I’m sorry to hear this… I was thinking my own church home (which I left that hometown at age 18 and haven’t lived there since, but still think of it as ‘my’ church). I too remember when the handicapped ‘chair’ elevator was installed, when they installed ceiling fans, when they got a new crucifix, etc. all the details my parents don’t remember but as a child I studied them and noticed them during each and every service.
Christar
said,
January 22, 2007 at 9:25 pm
That’s so horrible. I don’t understand how people could do something like that.
The church I went to growing up, and the church I was baptized in, is a really pretty church and I have a lot of memories there too. I’d be sad to find out if someone ruined it the way someone ruined your old church. My old church has those glass blocks too, and they’re awesome.
Sorry to hear about that.
HollowSquirrel
said,
January 22, 2007 at 10:04 pm
So not cool or funny. I hope the vandals get caught and do time. I don’t care where or how you’re raised, vandalizing a church (or any building) is wrong. Damn asshats!
SJ
said,
January 22, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Very sad, how very sad. I don’t understand why people do this kind of stuff either. What self gratification could one get out of starting a fire in a church of all places?
We had an apartment fire in Colorado Springs last week that burned for 3 days and literlly torched the entire apartment complex. Tons of people homeless. Tons of people who now have to start their lives over, they have lost everything. The fire spread so fast that the residents had no option but to get out leaving everything behind. So far, only 2 people have been found dead (which is totally amazing) but the fire? ARSON. The person that started the fire? A 23 year old punk who was pissed off at his girlfriend, who ‘might’ not have even lived there. Man, it just pisses me off beyond belief….makes me sick to my stomach.
But anyway, I’m sorry that some asshats vandalized a place that holds so many memories for you. It’s just not cool, at all.
DeAnn
said,
January 23, 2007 at 12:00 am
Gosh, that is SO sad. And annoying. I don’t understand people at all.
Frema
said,
January 23, 2007 at 12:07 am
How awful. I have lots of memories of the church I went to as a child, and I would hate to hear about something so awful happening there. What a shame.
kerrianne
said,
January 23, 2007 at 2:28 am
I hate stories like that. Sad.
Molly
said,
January 23, 2007 at 3:31 am
That is terribly sad. I hate hearing stories like this. Don’t people think about what they are doing?? I suppose it will take a major personal tragedy for each of the vandals to realize what tragedies they have caused with their own actions. If they ever do realize. How sad.
angela
said,
January 23, 2007 at 3:53 am
Oh man, that is disgusting. I hope that the vandals are found.
Lena
said,
January 23, 2007 at 5:01 am
Beautifully written. I feel the same way about the little church in the small town I grew up in. Now there’s huge buildings built up all around it and they’re talking about tearing it down for commercial development. Sad.
Jessie
said,
January 23, 2007 at 3:24 pm
That’s really sad. My church was vandelized once when I was a kid. They stole a bunch of hymnals and 6 keys from the pipe organ, among other things. I wonder why people take things like that - there’s no use for the keys without the organ, so why bother? Just to be annoying I think. It’s incredibly unfortunate.
Jennifer
said,
January 23, 2007 at 5:12 pm
I can understand rebellious kids doing stupid stuff, but vandalism is just beyond me. I don’t get why some people seem to get off destroying things — and fire is a whole other level, because once it’s started you can’t control it. You could mean to “only” burn down a church and end up taking down a whole block full of homes with it.
I don’t believe in hell, but people who do stuff like this definitely go somewhere awful.
shellynoir
said,
January 23, 2007 at 6:19 pm
How about a church/firehouse? The church would be on the upper level.
Maybe if every family had a baby monitor in the church. And the receiving monitor in their house. That way they could hear the vandalism and call the police.
Okay, maybe not such a good idea.
Alarm system, then?
How about an all-night cafe in the church? Lots of jittery people with cell phones and laptops.
Lindsey
said,
January 24, 2007 at 12:48 am
That is horrible. Did they catch the person/s who did it?
Durga
said,
January 25, 2007 at 6:46 pm
WOW!
Why didn’t we hear anything about this?
*sigh*
So Sad.
So Angry.
Why do they do that? really?
p.s Thanks for coming by my blog and leaving nice comments. I’m sorry I’m so behind on your blog. I’ll make it up to u.
BTW did u get my not so P/C postcard?
Britt
said,
January 26, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Geez, that’s too bad. I hate that people can direspectful to property, especially God’s property. What the?!?
We have a church up the street from us that is constantly being vandalized, and Cody feels it’s his personal duty to guard it (I think mostly because his grandpa lives next door, and he wants to protect his grandpa) so we have to drive through the parking lot all the time to look for suspicious activity.
hola, isabel » 6′ under what?
said,
April 6, 2007 at 8:11 pm
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