wfn.org | ABCUSA: Historic Conshohocken, Pa., Church Destroyed by Fire

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Rich.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 5/11/05)--A
quickly-spreading three-alarm fire destroyed historic First Baptist
Church in Conshohocken, Pa., yesterday morning.

No one was injured by the blaze, which was battled by more than 150 area
firefighters and contained within about an hour.  The fire may have been
started by a spark from by a blowtorch used by workers on the building's
roof.

The sanctuary of First Baptist was built in 1903, and other portions of
the church building date back to 1871.

Support was quick in coming for the church's members and their pastor,
the Rev. Brad Lacey.  Area American Baptist pastors, including the Revs.
Brian Henderson of Upper Merion Baptist Church, Nick Salios of Plymouth
Valley Baptist Church and Myna Graham of St. Paul's Baptist Church, were
among the first onsite to lend support and prayer.

Area Minister Dale Miller reported last night, "Outside of the parsonage
that sits next door to the church building a couple of hundred people
gathered for praise and prayer, Scripture, words of encouragement and
expression of appreciation for all that had been done to support the
congregation in its time of need.  I was blessed to have spent these
significant moments with Rev. Lacey and FBC of Conshohocken.  God is
good to us in our moments of adversity!"

Church leaders are scheduled to meet this evening to discuss where to
hold Sunday worship services.

K/2005ABNS/05ABN40

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA
x2077 / (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org