By Tom Weber, KWMU
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwmu/local-kwmu-618321.mp3
St. Louis, MO –
| To see more photos of the church fire, visit KWMU's flickr group site by clicking here. (thanks to Geoff Story for his quickly-posted photos) |
An historic church on the north end of Grand Center burned last night, but the incoming pastor says the parish wants to rebuild.
A fire started in one of the towers of St. Alphonsus "Rock" Church on north Grand after lightning hit it.
But Father Matthew Bonk says the damage could have been worse. "Most of the fire damage itself is just in the top portion of the church, the roof and the upper portion.
"The church itself suffered very little damage except for the water damage from the firemen putting out the fire on the roof."
No one was hurt. Bonk says mass will be held at the next-door gymnasium for now, and he says next month's planned celebration of the church's 140 years is still on.