wfn.org | Episcopalians: BulletinEpiscopal cathedral in Phoenix suffers disastrous fire

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

October 10, 2002

2002-232

Episcopalians: BulletinEpiscopal cathedral in Phoenix suffers 
disastrous fire

According to press reports, historic Trinity Episcopal Cathedral 
in downtown Phoenix caught fire last night and first reports 
indicate that the sanctuary of the 82-year-old structure is a 
"total loss." Smoke damaged the rest of the building and the 
cathedral's 3,000-pipe organ, dedicated just last November, 
sustained "significant damage," according to the Fire 
Department.

The Arizona Republic reported that "the blaze appears 
to have been started by a worship candle at the back of the 
cathedral, then spread to the second floor and attic, burning as 
hot as 1200 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas." Teri Murphy, a 
parishioner from Tempe, "ran like a maniac yelling "fire'" when 
she realized that her son was upstairs taking piano lessons. "We 
tried to go back through the hallway but the smoke was too 
thick," said Murphy, the Episcopal chaplain at Arizona State. 
"We would have died if we tried to go through because the kids 
were panicking and having trouble breathing," she told the 
newspaper. 

But the side door was locked so Murphy punched her fist 
through a window and yelled for help. A man who Murphy said 
appeared to be a transient jerked the steel door open, freeing 
her and the children. "It was like a superhuman effort," she 
told the newspaper. "I had never seen him before and have not 
seem him since."

The newspaper reported that it took about 85 firefighters 
about 15 minutes to control the blaze. The cathedral, with 360 
members, finished a $1.85 million restoration last year.

Murphy called the cathedral "a lovely, quiet place" and said 
that "it's devastating to the community. We're in shock." 
Staring at the building, parishioner Gail Mjalmarson said that 
"it just crushes you."

Roman Catholic Monsignor Edward Ryle of Phoenix stopped to 
offer the church support and solidarity. "It's just really 
tragic," he said to the newspaper. "The church, being a human 
institution, is not immune from accidents."

Church members are vowing to rebuild, saying resurrection is 
what the church is about. Members plan to gather Sunday for 
worship services, even if they must use the cathedral's 
courtyard.

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