GEORGETOWN, SC (WCSC) - A fire destroyed a 114-year-old church in Georgetown County early Sunday morning.
Firefighters were called out to St. Stephen AME Church on Winyah Street around 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning after neighbors say they heard a loud explosion.
It took more than two hours for firefighters to get the blaze under control.
"Just to see it crumble like this - It's really hurtful," said Rev. Carl Anderson. "But we're thankful to God that it did not happen during our worship service because I know some lives would have been lost."
Assistant Fire Chief Bill Johnson tells said that some of the flames got as high as 50 feet. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but fire officials believe it may have started in the middle of the church, in the Sanctuary.
No one was injured, but the church was destroyed.
Members of the church congregation gathered shortly after the blaze started. Services were held Sunday morning outside of the church with prayer and song.
Firefighters were called out to St. Stephen AME Church on Winyah Street around 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning after neighbors say they heard a loud explosion.
It took more than two hours for firefighters to get the blaze under control.
"Just to see it crumble like this - It's really hurtful," said Rev. Carl Anderson. "But we're thankful to God that it did not happen during our worship service because I know some lives would have been lost."
Assistant Fire Chief Bill Johnson tells said that some of the flames got as high as 50 feet. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but fire officials believe it may have started in the middle of the church, in the Sanctuary.
No one was injured, but the church was destroyed.
Members of the church congregation gathered shortly after the blaze started. Services were held Sunday morning outside of the church with prayer and song.