A fire that devastated a historic church in Brooklyn, which had stood for 173 years, was found to be intentionally ignited. This determination was made public on Tuesday, and the investigation is still ongoing.
According to a recent statement from the firefighters, this discovery adds to the sorrow felt by the church community. The Fire Department of New York and the New York Police Department are looking into the fire as a potential case of arson. Earlier reports had indicated that the blaze was being treated as suspicious.
Interestingly, a witness observed someone near the South Bushwick Reformed Church shortly before the fire broke out. They were walking around the area around 1:20 p.m. on June 19. Following the incident, three alarm signals prompted nearly 200 first responders to head to the scene. Thankfully, no one was present inside the church at that time.
By around 3:35 p.m., firefighters had managed to get the fire under control, but the damage was extensive, including the collapse of the steeple onto the roof.
As of Wednesday morning, no one had been arrested in connection with the fire. In an effort to support the church, a fundraising campaign was launched on GoFundMe. The purpose is to raise funds for urgent repairs, a temporary worship space, replacement of lost equipment, community outreach, and restoration efforts, as explained by Rev. James E. Steward II. The initiative has so far brought in around $16,000 toward its $26,000 goal.
Steward expressed his deep sadness regarding the fire’s intentional nature, noting that it adds to the grief of both himself and the congregation. He also remarked that “whoever is responsible for this ultimately has to answer to God.”
The church, established in 1853 and designated a city landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1968, is among only eight remaining wooden chapels of its kind in New York City. The congregation traces its roots back to Dutch settlers in the 17th century.
After the fire, church leaders worked diligently to salvage as many historic elements as possible, hoping to stabilize some parts for future restoration. Although demolition plans for the remaining structures were underway, they have been temporarily paused to allow the church more time to save Fellowship Hall, which was added in 1881.
In an unexpected turn of events, church officials reported success in halting the demolition processes and securing approval to develop a stabilization plan for the building, which has lifted their spirits amidst the ongoing crisis.
