Philadelphia's historic Mother Bethel AME Church vandalized, stained glass windows damaged
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A historic church in Philadelphia's Society Hill neighborhood is boarded up after being vandalized early Monday morning.
Leaders with Mother Bethel AME Church, located at the corner of South 6th and Addison Streets, told CBS Philadelphia the vandalism happened between 4 and 5 a.m. on Monday. Witnesses reported seeing a man throwing rocks at the church's iconic stained glass windows on the building's lower level.
Police are now looking for the person who broke several windows, which Senior Pastor Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler said dates back to 1890.
The historically African American church traces its origins to the 18th century and was recently awarded a $90,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help make general repairs to the building's windows and other renovations.
Tyler said church leaders and police don't know what motivated the vandalism, but at this point, it appears to be a random crime.
"So we don't necessarily think this was a hate crime; obviously police are not ruling that out, but it does not feel that way right now," he said.
According to Tyler, other buildings in the area were also recently vandalized.
But luckily, Tyler said the church is already on the receiving end of help from the community.
"The outpouring of support from the community in Philadelphia and beyond has been absolutely incredible. We just received notice from a local foundation that's willing to help us," he said Tuesday morning.
"When the sun shines through those stained glass windows it's a moving experience," said Paul Steinke, the executive director of The Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia.
Steinke worshipped at Mother Bethel, and after learning about the vandalism, his team sent an email to its more than 11,000 members Tuesday asking for donations. Tyler estimated the cost to replicate and reinstall new windows would total nearly $20,000.
"It's truly a beautiful worship space that has been lovingly cared for by this congregation for over 100 years," Steinke said. "So, if we can do anything to help get the church back on its feet and to recover from this loss, we're happy to do it."
Tyler is also looking to upgrade the church's security system, which would also cost thousands of dollars.
According to police, no arrests have been made.