Pastor: 'We're going to come out of the ashes with hope'

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -

Members of a historic church in Fayetteville are making plans to repair the damage after a fire.

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church burned Tuesday evening. Firefighters responded to the church at Moore and Ramsey Streets at 6:46 p.m.

Although flames were large and smoke was heavy, the fire was contained to the sanctuary's main entrance and roof area near the steeple. Smoke and water spread throughout the sanctuary.

On Wednesday three red tarps were still covering important parts of the sanctuary's interior. Firefighters had placed them over the altar, the piano and organ combo and the baptismal font in an effort to protect them from water.

I'm just thankful it was just contained, and the firemen did a wonderful job of taking care of the facility, said Rev. Teddra Smith, the church's Rector. Coming in here this morning I was like, ooh, thank you God.' I said, you must have sent your angels' to contain it in one area.

Smith said the church's insurance would cover the cost of repairs. She said there will be a nationwide search to find craftsmen who can restore the church, including its 119-year-old woodwork. The building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982, and because of that everything must be put back just as it was, Smith said.

The church formed in 1873 after African-Americans branch off from nearby St. John's Episcopal Church. A plaque in the sanctuary says the building was erected in 1896. The windows surrounding the altar came from Tiffany & Co.

Smith said compared the fire to the season of Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday.

We're going to come out of the ashes with hope, Smith said. Lent is the season when we are in the ashes. When we come out of the ashes with Palm Sunday and Easter there's hope, and there's resurrected life, and that's what's going to happen here.

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Pastor: 'We're going to come out of the ashes with hope'