wfn.org | Church fire mars Thanksgiving for Kentucky

[DISCNEWS.parti@ecunet.org]

congregation
December 4, 1996
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the web: http//www.disciples.org

96b-99
                              
     LEXINGTON, Ky. (DNS) -- Thanksgiving 1996 will long be
remembered by a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
congregation whose building was extensively damaged Nov. 27
in an apparently accidental fire.  

     Fire crews arrived barely two hours after a
Thanksgiving eve service at East Second Street Christian
Church and found flames shooting out the side of the red
brick structure. Fire officials arrived at the downtown
location around 10:30 p.m.

     There was no indication of arson, according to fire
investigators. A cigarette in the pastor's study apparently
sparked the two-alarm blaze, said Battalion Chief Randy
Gilliam. 

     The Rev. Raymond L. Brown, pastor, said he is a smoker
and remembered smoking in his study after worship services
ended at 8:30 p.m, according to a Lexington newspaper
article. Despite questions about his smoking habits, Brown
saw the link to a burning cigarette as speculation. No
official cause has been found for the blaze, he said. 

     Nevertheless, FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms agents checked to see if the fire was linked to the
more than 70 black church burnings across the South. East
Second Street Christian Church is a predominantly African
American congregation.

     Federal agents found nothing suspicious, said Gilliam.
"There was no other ignition source."

      "The fire completely gutted my study and did extensive
damage to the rear of our building," said Brown. Other
affected areas included the nursery, kitchen, fellowship
hall and other offices. 

     The only harm to the 150-year-old sanctuary was a
charred back wall. Firefighting efforts, however, did lead
to extensive smoke and water damage in the worship space. 

     Church members had finished an extensive remodeling
project in the sanctuary during the summer, according to
Brown. The ceiling had been replastered, the walls painted
and a new carpet installed.

     The 250-member congregation is worshiping at Disciples-related Lexington
Theological Seminary until building
repairs have been made. 

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