wfn.org | Fire wipes out most of Ridgewood, NJ church

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Note #7005 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

08-January-2002
02017

Fire wipes out most of Ridgewood, NJ church

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE - A midday fire has destroyed much of West Side Presbyterian
Church in Ridgewood, NJ.

	The Rev. Barbara Worthington, executive presbyter for Palisades Presbytery,
told the Presbyterian News Service it was "a big, big fire that went very,
very fast."

	The fire apparently started when a workman repairing the boiler under the
sanctuary sparked the blaze with his welding torch. Worthington said the
sanctuary, which had stone walls, was completely gutted and the roof is
gone. She said the fire quickly spread to the administration wing of the
large facility, which had recently undergone a $3 million renovation. Church
offices and a brand new chapel were also destroyed.

	Worthington said the education wing of the complex was apparently spared.

	Organized in 1912, West Side Church is the largest congregation in
Palisades Presbytery, with 1,500 members. "It is an active, active church,"
Worthington said. "It's horrible right now," she added, "but this
congregation will be fine. All the sayings about a church being much more
than it's building are sure true of West Side."
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