Category: OUR CHURCH ROOTS

This article appeared on OANEWS September 4, 2009

It was smiles, singing and celebration Sunday at Liberty CME Church in LaFayette, one of three churches burned by accused arsonists last Valentine’s Day.

The church, which was completely destroyed by the fire earlier this year, was dedicated Sunday after being rebuilt. The new, all-brick structure was full of old friends and supporters for the festivities.

“I reckon I’m as happy (today) as I was sad the day of the fire,” said Samuel Moss, an officer at Liberty and the chair of the trustee board at the church.

Parishioners have been worshiping at Sweet Hope CME Church in Cusseta. It was a sweet homecoming on Sunday. The service began with a ribbon cutting at the front of the church. Two choirs, one from Mt. Zion CME and another from St. Luke’s CME provided the music.

Now that the new structure is finished, it’s time to plan for the future, said the Rev. Shelia Crabb, pastor at Liberty. The church will begin having Sunday school and Bible study again. Neither have taken place since the fire.

“What the devil did, God turned around,” Crabb said, gesturing with her hands to the new building. The old building was about 175-years-old.

George Green, owner of The Green Construction Company, rebuilt the church. He donated the new steeple, the PA system, piano and built stands for speakers in the church.

“All the bad things that’s been done, all the good things are going to overshadow it,” he said.

Meanwhile, four people have been charged with arson in the Liberty church fire, as well as two other area church fires in the same time period.

Christopher M. Ware, Taylor H. Jennings, Phillip J. Chapman and Cody L. Jasper, all 20, have been charged, each with two counts of second-degree arson and third-degree burglary in Chambers County, and one count each of second-degree arson and third-degree burglary in Lee County, according to the state fire marshal’s office.

In addition to Liberty CME Church, fires destroyed Union Hill CME Church in the Oak Bowery community in Chambers County and damaged Pitts Chapel United Methodist Church near Salem in Lee County.

Report from Montgomery News

View this article on original source.

SALEM, AL (WSFA) — Arson is now confirmed at at least two of the three churches that burned over the Valentine’s Day weekend in east Alabama.

The Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office determined early Saturday morning fires at Union Hill CME Church and Liberty CME Church, both in rural Chambers County, were of “incendiary origin.” Each structure was totally destroyed.

No suspects have been identified and no connection has been officially made between any of the fires says investigators.

A third church, the Pitts Chapel Church in Salem, burned later Saturday evening, destroying much of its interior space. Investigators suspect that church fire was the work of an arsonist as well. Members of the 111 year old church held Sunday services despite the damage and the graffiti painted walls.

“I hope they catch whoever’s responsible, and we’re praying for them, but we want to see them caught too,” said church member Leigh Deshields.

Investigators say they don’t see a connection between the Pitts Chapel fire and two other church fires, but they are definitely not ruling it out either.

Earlier Saturday morning both the Liberty CME Church and Union Hill CME Church in the Oak Bowery section of Chambers County were completely destroyed.

It’s a sight Rev. Jimmy Carlisle and parishioners will never forget:  the skeletal remains of their historic church, Liberty CME Church, exposed for the first time since the 1860’s. The building is even said to have played a role in the Underground Railroad before it became a church.

Local, state, and federal agencies combed the scenes for clues while churchgoers stood in shock.

“To come up and find our church in flames, it just [hurts],” said church member Dora Moss.

Authorities collected whatever evidence they could find to fuel a criminal investigation.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Carlisle wants answers. “Whoever did this, I pray to God that they will be brought to justice.  We want justice served and be done on whoever it was,” Carlisle insisted.

It’s still too early to tell how the churches burned and, if it was arson, who set the fires.

Parishioners say it will be tough, but they’ll keep the faith.

“I know it will never be back the way it was, but the memories that are here will always be here for me,” said church member Lula Harris.

Both the Union Hill CME and Liberty CME church buildings were insured. It was not immediately known if there was insurance on the Pitts Chapel Churc