Warrior Creek Missionary Baptist Church was destroyed by fire Tuesday night, Aug. 21, 2018. The original structure was built in 1857. (Christy Perry for The Tribune)
CULLMAN COUNTY – “We’re not giving in; we are digging in,” Phillip Bagwell reminded fellow members of Warrior Creek Missionary Baptist Church Wednesday after fire destroyed their place of worship at 1857 County Road 1830 in Arab, in the extreme northeast corner of Cullman County.
Church members, friends, family and neighbors came to support each other as they struggled with the loss of the church. The fire was first reported at approximately 7:30 Tuesday evening with hot spots continuing to flare up throughout Wednesday morning.
The Arab Fire Department along with the Joppa, Brooksville and Baileyton Volunteer Fire Departments fought the blaze for at least seven hours. Deputies from the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office were also at the scene.
Deacon Tom Ellenburg said, “There might have been other fire departments who responded, I just can’t recall at the moment. We are appreciative to everyone who came.”
The Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office and ATF had still not cleared the scene as of noon Wednesday and continue to investigate the fire’s origin. Firefighters from Arab arrived late in the morning to continue adding water to still-smoldering areas.
Ellenburg spoke on behalf of the church:
“The church was established in 1857. Our old sanctuary is the area still standing though it did sustain smoke and some water damage. Our new sanctuary was built in 1998. We believe the fire started in the rear of the sanctuary, but we are still waiting the fire marshal’s findings. The fellowship hall was built in 2004. The Sunday school rooms were in the building connecting the sanctuary and fellowship hall. The contractors had not completed all the work in that area, but we were already using the area as they finished the last few things.
“We have spoken to our insurance company and the church buildings are well insured. The most important need is finding a place for church services, and we have had many generous offers from other churches in the area. We will have a meeting with the pastor, Daryl Ross, and the deacons to make decisions, but I believe we will hold a tent service here at the church this Sunday. I think it is very important that we do that.”
Standing near the smoldering structure Wednesday, church members reminisced about all of their memorable times at the church. Many had been married or baptized in the sanctuary.
Bagwell said of the loss, “This is just the shell of the church we are looking at. The body of the church is stronger than ever. Lots of good memories in those burned buildings, but our church is strong, and we will rebuild.”
The church members are waiting for the fire marshal to clear the scene. They will not know the extent of the damage to the original sanctuary until they are allowed to go inside. The other buildings are a total loss.
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