BENWOOD, W.Va. — When Raleigh Wilson looked out his window Monday night he could scarcely believe the sight unfolding. The beloved St. John Church, where he and his wife Rose had been members for years, was ablaze.
“At first it looked like fireworks the way the sparks and flames were shooting across the street,” said Wilson on Tuesday’s edition of MetroNews “Talkline.”
“I went to the kitchen window and could see the entire length of the church. The flames and sparks were shooting out into the street from underneath the roof.”
Wilson heard the volunteer fire department’s siren, but by the time firefighters arrived the building was fully engulfed. The fire scorched the upper levels of the structure and created extensive water damage to the interior of the sanctuary.
Daylight revealed the brick walls of the church still standing, its large stained-glass windows still intact. Some of those were undamaged by the fire but others were hit with fire, smoke, and water. A crane arrived to bring down the historic church’s bell tower, which was leaning and left officials fearful it would crash.
“In August we would have been celebrating our 50th anniversary,” said Wilson. “Our wedding took place in that church.”
A cause remained under investigation.
“It seems to have started in the sacristy area and went up the wall and into the roof cavity,” said Monsignor Fred Annie. “It burned it off very quickly.”
Monsignor Annie said the church was in the process of moving holy week activities to a sister parish, St. James in McMechen. The Catholic school attached to the church, though not heavily damaged by fire, faces other safety issues relative to the blaze,
“How quickly can we get into the buildings of the entire block and get it up and running again,” said Annie. “We’re looking at alternatives and looking at ways to answer that question.”
The school is closed until at least mid-April.