09037
January 16, 2009
Heavy fire destroys historic church in Louisville
Portland community's only mainline Protestant church considered a huge loss
Louisville firefighters continue to pour water on Portland Avenue Presbyterian Church after an early morning fire destroyed all but a few exterior brick walls. Photos by Pat Gleich 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 sanctuary window of Portland Avenue Presbyterian Church reveals the destruction caused the early morning fire Jan. 16. “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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