Canaan M.B. Church, which has stood for nearly 156 years on Bell Avenue, will have to rebuild completely after suffering substantial damage from a Sunday afternoon fire.
“It doesn’t have a (roof) on it, and the sanctuary, all inside of it, is burnt up,” Pastor Al Lathan told The Dispatch Monday. “We’re just going to have to demolish it and start from scratch.”
Columbus Fire and Rescue responded to the fire just after 3 p.m. Sunday. The fire appeared to start in the sanctuary before spreading to the attic through spaces in the church’s construction, CFR Chief Duane Hughes told The Dispatch.
“We knew we had a fire. We just couldn’t find out where it was,” Hughes said. “As with churches, over time, you have construction and board space, where the fire was building. And by the time we got ready to attack it, it got out of hand.”
Hughes told The Dispatch Monday the investigation is ongoing, but no foul play is suspected.
No one was inside the church at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported, he said.
Lathan said the congregation had its usual service Sunday morning. By the afternoon, he and other members watched from across the street as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
“This is God’s work,” Lathan told The Dispatch. “We just have to trust in him, knowing he’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing. So we’ll trust in him, (and) we’ll get what he’s going to bless us with.”
Lathan said the church was remodeled about 65 years ago, but has stood on the same plot of land for 155 years. The church was preparing to celebrate its 156th anniversary Nov. 1.
Church leadership will meet this afternoon to discuss where services will be held in the meantime and when reconstruction will begin.
Former Ward 4 City Councilman Pierre Beard serves as director of music for the church. He said he and his family are longtime members.
“I really don’t even know how to feel right now,” Beard said. “I got baptized at that church when I was seven years old. That’s our family church. Been there all my life. New beginnings, I guess. That’s all I can say.”
The church boasts about 157 congregation members, Lathan said. Beard said he’s spoken to many of them since the fire.
“Everybody’s just speechless,” he said. “We all remained faithful. We all stand strong. That was just a building. Nobody was there. It’s time to rebuild.”
Despite the damage done Sunday, Lathan is encouraging his members to remain positive.
“We can’t just always look at the bad side,” he said. “You’ve got to look at the positive side. That’s what I’m trying to get my members to do. Look at the positive side of it: We’re going to get a new Canaan.”
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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