Parishioners salvage what's left after church fire

Posted: Updated:

By Justin Burrows - email

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - The Skidaway Island United Methodist Church stood in ruins Monday after a fire ripped through the church Sunday evening.

It happened around 6pm Sunday. Almost 50 firefighters rushed to the scene to battle the fire as congregation members gathered in the parking lot.

"One of our employees happened to be here and she was working, preparing for bible school, and she heard a, 'pop,'" said minister Jim Giddens.

"My first thought was, did a tree fall? I mean, that is what it sounded like," said Amy Utley.

Amy Utley is the director of Christian education at the church and she was the only there when she realized something wasn't right.

"I went to shut the lights off later on down in the education hall and could smell the smoke," said Utley.

Southside Fire Department officials say the fire appeared to have started from a lightning strike.

"That was the hardest moment, the two hardest parts were watching your church in flames, as a church member and as someone working in ministry, nobody wants to see that. Second worse moment was having to call the pastor and his wife," said Utley.

"Flames were shooting from the roof and it was a mess," said Giddens.

Things were still a mess Monday, but it was a day about recovery for the members of the church. They salvaged and boxed the items that could be saved and began to look forward.

"We'll persevere, this is a great congregation of people and this is a challenge we will rise to meet and we'll repair it and continue from there," said Giddens.

"Buildings, we can overcome. People would have been worse," said Utley.

Giddens says this church will continue to worship, finding the light in whatever darkness they may face.