After a massive fire engulfed a historic Brooklyn church, collapsing its steeple, the church is hoping to raise $2 million to rebuild and keep its congregation going in the meantime.
The South Bushwick Reformed Church is seeking the money to fund a temporary worship space, replace damaged equipment and furnishings, run community outreach ministries, conduct architectural and engineering assessments, and restore and rebuild the nearly 175-year-old house of worship.
“While we are grateful that no lives were lost, the loss of our worship space and ministry center has deeply impacted our congregation and neighborhood,” the church said on its GoFundMe.
The GoFundMe had raised close to $3,000 as of Saturday afternoon.
The blaze broke out around 1:20 p.m. Friday on Bushwick Ave. near Himrod St. and quickly escalated to three alarms, a FDNY spokesperson said. Videos and photos on social media showed flames and clouds of dark smoke billowing from the steeple, which quickly collapsed around 20 minutes later, according to a witness who posted on X.
The church was unoccupied at the time and there was no indication of suspicious activity, the FDNY said.
Firefighters brought the flames under control by 3:35 p.m. One firefighter suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. A total of 192 firefighters and EMS personnel responded to the blaze.
After the fire, the city’s Department of Buildings issued a full vacate order for the church and ordered it owners to install a construction fence around the property for public safety.
DOB has not ordered the remaining structure be demolished as the agency is still investigating the landmarked building’s structural stability.
Firefighters were still at the scene Saturday, monitoring the church just in case any new fires spark up from the ashes of the gutted structure. DOB personnel were at the scene, too, holding a meeting about the building and conducting an additional structural stability inspection.
The FDNY is still investigating the cause of the blaze.
The church was built in 1853, but the congregation dates back to the Dutch colonial period in the 1600s, according to the National Fund for Sacred Spaces. It’s one of only eight surviving wooden houses of worship in New York City that are officially landmarked by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission.
At first, it was believed the fire-damaged church might have to be demolished. But church leaders are now hopeful the spiritual sanctuary can be rebuilt, and that they can relocate in the meantime, describing the steps forward as a “long journey of recovery and restoration.”
The fire extensively damaged the historic church, which had recently been renovated, officials told ABC News.
That the fire destroyed the church on Juneteenth, celebrating the end of slavery in the U.S., was especially devastating, said New York Attorney General Letitia James. James said the church will receive grants and support from the government to rebuild.
“On this day, as we think about freedom, this historic church has fallen,” James said. “But, as we know in our faith, church is more than a structure. Church is within. And that’s why this church will rebuild.”
James Stewart, the congregation’s pastor, was heartbroken at the loss of the historic building but echoed James’ sentiment.
“It’s a devastating loss emotionally, but we know that the church is more than just a building, it’s people,” Stewart said. “We will get through this together.”