Currents News Staff
A massive fire probably sparked by a lightning strike gutted the 150-year old First Baptist Church in Wakefield. Firefighters struggled to reach the hellish inferno that had made its way toward the 180-foot-tall spire that was the steeple.
It was nearly impossible to extinguish the flames. The congregation’s one saving grace was an image of Christ, hung just inside the church’s front doors. The painting survived the seven-alarm fire unscathed.
Still, the pain of loss is deep. Donna Burns, who’s been the church’s music director for 35 years, finds it hard to witness the devastation of a place she calls home. “Very special place in my heart musically, religiously, it’s a loss, a lot like a death in the family,” said Burns.
Interim Pastor Rev. Norman Bendroth says the church is the cradle of many stories and memories. “It’s not the building of course, but it’s the container of all these sacred memories you know this is where baptized, married my daughter, buried my mother,” said Bendroth.
It’s also a building that contained historic records, paintings, a decades old organ – things difficult to replace. “Total sadness, total sadness, you can’t even put it into words,” said Burns.
However, a picture miraculously unscathed speaks a thousand words, and parishioners pray, just like Christ’s resurrection, their church will rise again.
“It’s comforting to me that this is just a building, and that we’re just going to move forward,” said Elaine Shindle, a parishioner.