Middle Collegiate Church, a historic Manhattan church that houses New York’s Liberty Bell, was devastated by a large-scale fire early in the morning of Saturday, December 5.
UA fire broke out in New York on Saturday from a vacant five-story building adjacent to the Middle Collegiate Church, around 5 a.m. Soon the fire spread to the historic East Village Church which was a flame before dawn.
From my roof:@middlechurch fire, 5:30am #eastvillagenyc pic.twitter.com/4kTqraiiAU
— Duke Todd (@DukeToddIsAlive) December 5, 2020
In this historic place of worship which was built in 1892, meets one of the oldest congregations in the city. It dates from the first Dutch settlers who came to Manahatta – the island of hills – in 1626. The steeple of Middle Collegiate Church is also known to house the Liberty Bell of New York. The famous bell which rang the birth of the country on July 9, 1776 and which has been ringing since the death of every American president. It still rings during significant events, such as the September 11 attacks.
More than a hundred firefighters tried to fight the flames reports ABC 7 New York, unfortunately despite this mobilization, it seems that the church is seriously damaged. Amanda Ashcraft one of the pastors of Middle Collegiate Church said that “the sanctuary is not in good condition”, she also deplores the loss of “beautiful stained glass” which completely disappeared in the fire.
On her Twitter account, Jacqueline Lewis, the church’s senior pastor, posted a photo of the burning building. She said she was “devastated” by the fire that burned this “beloved shrine”. However, she recalled that “no fire can stop revolutionary love”.
We are devastated and crushed that our beloved physical sanctuary at Middle Collegiate Church has burned.
And yet no fire can stop Revolutionary Love. pic.twitter.com/R8D3NVjAiY
— Rev. Jacqui Lewis, PhD (@RevJacquiLewis) December 5, 2020
The community, which brings together around 1300 faithful, has been meeting online since March 15 because of the pandemic. As Jacqueline Lewis announced on Twitter, this is what they will continue to do, while waiting to take stock of the devastation caused by the fire.
C.P
Image Credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com
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