Watch CBS News

Good Shepherd Worshipers Gather For Vigil Outside Fire-Damaged Church

by Justin Udo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A church torn apart by a massive fire brings a community together.

For the last few years, Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in West Philadelphia housed five different congregations.

"We have Seventh Day Adventist, we have Baptist, we have non-denominational, we have Presbyterian, we have fellowship organizations, we are just a diverse group of worshipers right here," said Reverend Anthony Jenkins.

Good Shepherd fire
Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church was heavily damaged by a fire early Monday morning. (credit: Justin Udo)

He is the pastor of Christian Temple Fellowship, one of the churches that called Good Shepherd home.

"It's still a feeling of unbelief, I'm actually still in shock," he said.

Reverend Jenkins and pastors from the other four churches organized a vigil on Tuesday evening for the church, which was gutted by a four-alarm fire earlier this week.

"We wanted to be a community that stands together. We are a community that stands together," said Reverend Jenkins.

During the vigil, a few dozen people from the church and the community prayed and sang hymns, just feet from the fire-ravaged church.

It is still unknown if officials will rebuild the 104-year-old church, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.