wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Heavy fire destroys historic church in Louisville

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This story and photos available online:

www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2009/09037<http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2009/09037

Heavy fire destroys historic church in Louisville

Portland community's only mainline Protestant church considered a
huge loss

>by Jerry L. Van Marter
>Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE ― An early morning fire in sub-zero weather
destroyed  historic Portland Avenue Presbyterian Church in
western Louisville today (Jan. 16).

The fire broke out about 3:00 a.m. and took several hours
to contain because the arctic weather conditions hampered
firefighters. Louisville is in the grips of its coldest
weather in more than five years.

"The first thing that goes through my mind is that the
church is very much intact because the church is the
people," said Pastor Willa Fae Williams.

"At the same time," she added, "I'm thinking about the
hundreds and hundreds of saints who have gone before us
whose blood, sweat and tears built this building. This is
just devastating because it's such a far-reaching
community."

The congregation will gather for worship on Sunday, but the
location has not been announced.

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>Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
>100 Witherspoon Street
>Louisville, KY 40202
>(888) 728-7228