Massive fire destroyed historic church that housed New York Liberty Bell
A massive fire, which erupted early Saturday in a vacant building in New York City’s East Village, spread to and destroyed one of the city’s oldest churches that is home to New York’s Liberty Bell. Other structures damaged include a women’s shelter.
The blaze, which started before 5 a.m. on Saturday inside a five-story building on East 7th Street, gutted the 128-year-old Middle Collegiate Church and the Liberty Bell that was rung in 1776 to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, The Associated Press reported:
“We are devastated. We are gutted like our building is gutted; our hearts are crushed like our doors are crushed,” the Rev. Jacqueline J. Lewis, who leads the church which was constructed in 1892.
The fire also caused damage to the Women’s Prison Association Hopper Home, which is next to the Middle Collegiate Church. It’s a shelter for women with a history of, or at risk of, involvement with the criminal legal system.
Source: christianpost.com
Image: upi.com
From my roof:@middlechurch fire, 5:30am #eastvillagenyc pic.twitter.com/4kTqraiiAU
— Duke Todd (@DukeToddIsAlive) December 5, 2020
