NORRISTOWN (KYW Newsradio) — Fire ripped through a historic church building in Norristown Tuesday night and the firefight continued into Wednesday morning in the frigid cold. Church leaders vow to rebuild.
The fire started at Faith Tabernacle House of Prayer on Dekalb and Marshall Streets just before 7 p.m. on Tuesday night, according to Norristown Fire Chief Tom O'Donnell. A number of nearby fire companies responded to assist Norristown firefighters in an effort to get the fire under control. There were several road closures around the church, which is only a few blocks away from the Montgomery County Courthouse.
While the church’s front stone exterior appeared to be intact, the building’s roof was left severely charred and damaged. Streets and sidewalks near the church were icy as firefighters blasted water for many hours through Wednesday morning.
“There’s a lot of crevices in the church, it’s heavy timber construction. Made the fire challenge very difficult for our firefighters,” said O'Donnell.
Officials say the fire was under control by 5:30 a.m.
Church members were inside making meals for the homeless when they said they heard a loud bang, O'Donnell said. No firefighters or members were injured in the blaze. The church has been a part of this community for four decades and the fire was a major blow to the congregation. It was initially built in the 1800s.
“It’s a historical building. We remodeled and did a whole lot of good things to it. And to see all the good memories go like this, it’s a bad thing. Don’t feel good at all,” Deacon Paul Owens said to NBC 10.
The building was a library before it was transformed into a church, Owens explained.
A few hundred people were worshiping on Sunday. What they will do in the weeks and months ahead, it isn’t exactly clear but Jorai LaPrince Sr., a church minister, said their spirits would remain high.
“Doesn’t really come from a building. It comes from within. So at the end of the day we’re gonna continue to strive, continue to worship, continue to do what we need to do. And hopefully rebuild,” LaPrince said to NBC 10.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.