Church leaders talk about rebuilding plans for Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Englewood, destroyed in fire last month
CHICAGO (CBS) -- So far, just over $40,000 has been raised to rebuild the historic Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Englewood – which was tragically destroyed by fire in April.
As CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reported, church leaders announced the next steps in the rebuilding process Friday.
"It feels like a decathlonic marathon," said Pastor Gerald Dew. " A lot of events, a lot of ups and downs, and it's going to be a long road, so we need your prayer and your patience."
April 15 is a day that Dew, lead pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, will never forget. It was Good Friday, and the day his beloved Englewood church went up in flames.
"It was devastating," said Pastor Dew. "But even as it burned, I had hope the walls could be saved."
The accidental fire was started by a propane torch used during roof work. It burned for four days.
Pastor Dew would soon learn, the entire church would need to be torn down. The demolition is expected to be complete in about a week.
"My thought shifted from saving anything and just doing something new," he said.
As the demolition of the remains of the church at Stewart and Englewood avenues is taking place right now, Pastor Dew says he is in the process of getting quotes from contractors and architects to see how much it's going to cost rebuild the church -- and also to make repairs to the fellowship hall and education building next to the church. Both were damaged in the fire.
Leaders would also like to add a community computer lab and a center for kids as part of the rebuild.
Dew says the church insurance policy is $9 million. He thinks the cost to rebuild and rehab will exceed that amount.
With that in mind, this Sunday, Pastor Dew asking churches of all denominations in Chicago and nationwide to go to the church website and click on "Build Antioch," and donate toward the rebuilding effort.
The church building that burned down dated back from the late 1880s, and was designed by the architectural firm Bell & Swift. The church was built in the Romanesque style.
It began as the Englewood Baptist Congregational Church before the Englewood Missionary Baptist Church took over the space in 1958.
Englewood Missionary Baptist Church is known for feeding those in need, building affordable housing and creating programs for young people and those in jail.
"We will just superimpose the operation of our faith and worship within that same space," said Pastor Dew.
Dew says Antioch Missionary Baptist Church is determined to rise from the ashes. Pastor Dew says his goal is to break ground for the new church on the same site in the spring of 2023.
