Fire claims church
By John Joyce
Published in News on October 13, 2014 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/JOHN JOYCE
Investigators go through the rubble of the remains of Salisbury AME Zion Church on Big Daddy's Road Sunday after the church was destroyed by fire late Saturday. Investigators said they did not suspect any foul play but could not pinpoint how the fire started.
Investigators with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office are still uncertain what caused the fire that burned Salisbury AME Zion Church, 3498 Big Daddy's Road, to the ground on Saturday.
Capt. Richard Lewis did say, however, that no suspicious activity is suspected.
"All of the contents were still there, such as the air conditioning units and copper pipes," he said.
Firefighters had to force entry upon their arrival as well, he said.
The church was unoccupied at the time of the fire.
The Rev. Carol Robins said the church has stood since 1937, but dates back even further. No one can say just how far.
"Over 100 years," she said.
Wayne County Fire Marshal Bryan Taylor said the call came in at 9:51 Saturday night. Fire crews from the Northeastern Fire District, Saulston, Antioch and Patetown Volunteer Fire Departments responded, but only managed to save a portion of one of the buildings adjacent to the church.
Investigators continued to dig through the rubble Sunday morning trying to determine what started the fire and where.
"We're still trying to figure that all out," Lt. Shawn Harris said.
Mrs. Robins said her church was very active and had a congregation of 51 members.
She drove in from Wilmington Sunday morning to inspect the damage.
"I got the call late last night, early this morning," she said.
She said the church had been undergoing renovations.
As she spoke, passing cars slowed and sometimes stopped in the middle of the road to see the church. Members of the congregation pulled into the gravel drive and got out of their cars to walk the grounds for themselves, taking in the devastation.
Older church members recalled the last time their church burned down, nearly 80 years ago.
"The church used to be over there off of Herman Lane Road, in front of the old mill," Richard Worrells said.
Worrells is one of the church's longest standing members.
"It burned down in the early 1930s. Then it moved here in 1937. This part of the building was put up in 1985," he said, pointing to the rubble.
Only the frame of what used to be the entrance to the church remained standing.
"We (built) it with the members, our own hands. We subcontracted what we had to, but the rest we did ourselves," Worrells said.
Mrs. Robins said it would be up to the congregation what to do next, whether to rebuild or to relocate.
"We're going to have to meet and see how we want to move forward," she said.
She said she remains hopeful and trusts in God's plan for her congregation.
One way or another, the more-than-a-century-old church is not going to be destroyed like the building in which it was housed.
"The church wasn't just the building, it is all of us. It is in us," Mrs. Robins said.