Pastors Look To Pick Up Pieces After Fire Rips Through West Philly Church
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church at 65th Street and Lansdowne Avenue was home to multiple congregations. The pastors of those churches are trying to find a way to pick up the pieces after a fire tore through the century-old building.
Known as the Church on the Hill, the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church has sat in the middle of Overbrook for more than 100 years. It stood as demographics changed and the church shifted its focus.
"We were a white congregation in what was essentially a Black community," said Rev. J.B. Adams, who has served at pastor of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church for the past 16 years. He says many of the members of his church have passed away; so his church began allowing other, smaller congregations to rent space. He says five congregations held services in the gothic stone building; there was also a daycare, community workshops, and classes that made the church a community hub.
"All of them are going to have to find a new place," Adams told KYW Newsradio, "as for us, we have to figure out what's going to happen in the future."
No one was hurt and many who attended events, workshops and services at Good Shepherd say it was a well-kept building.
"It was a place that was an anchor in for the community for many years," said Rev. Pam Williams, pastor of ARK of Refuge Tabernacle of Philadelphia. Her church of about 40 members has held services in Good Shepherd for the past five years.
"When I first got the call, I was in disbelief," she said, "it was devastating and heartbreaking to hear your church is on fire."
Williams says she cried when she saw the aftermath of the fire.
"Then to get there and to see the windows being knocked out --it was terrible," said Williams. "I don't know where we go from here. We lost everything that the ARK of Refuge Tabernacle owns."
Both Williams and Adams say they must first process the fire; as for where they will worship, they both say it's unclear what the future holds for their congregations.
