Feb. 17, 1998
CONTACT: Linda Bloom New York (212) 870-3803
GBGM Note: See also, United Methodists continue to assist burned churches
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UMNS) –- A United Methodist church was among five in the state believed to have been deliberately set on fire during mid-February.
Damages to the churches have been estimated from $2,000 to $500,000 each. Arson investigators are looking into the fires, which struck churches in northwest Mecklenburg County and nearby Gaston County.
The fire at Moore's Chapel United Methodist Church occurred Feb. 14. It was contained to a kitchen area, fellowship hall and a couple of upper-level classrooms.
Firefighters had to knock out walls on the upper level because the blaze had spread to the attic, according to the pastor, the Rev. Sara Elliott.
The sanctuary, located in a newer wing away from the kitchen, was not damaged. "We feel very fortunate," Elliott said. "Another five minutes and this would have been a whole different story."
The damaged wing is more than 100 years old. Although fire investigators have estimated the damage at $2,000, the pastor believes the costs will be closer to $10,000 to $15,000.
"It's going to take $2,000 just to get started cleaning up," she explained.
Fire investigators had told neighbors in the area to be on guard, Elliott said. Before the Moore's Chapel fire, a separate blaze occurred at the New Apostolic Church about a half-mile away.
Unlike the series of fires striking predominantly black churches in recent years, both of the North Carolina churches have largely white congregations.
The 220-member congregation at Moore's Chapel had regular worship the day after the fire, but it has had to postpone meal-related functions.
*Hand is director of the Western North Carolina Conference News Bureau.
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