Published in the September 17, 2019 edition.
WAKEFIELD — A much-anticipated decision on the future of the First Baptist Church site has been made. The congregation voted on Sunday to rebuild on the site of last year’s devastating fire that destroyed the historic house of worship.
“I wanted to let you know that today the congregation of First Baptist Church took a vote to rebuild on our 8 Lafayette Street site,” church moderator Melinda Parry announced on Sunday. “Applause broke out at the meeting when we took vote. We have been told that it will take 18 months to break ground and an additional year to complete construction.”
The town will not soon forget the blaze that destroyed the nearly 150-year-old church.
As a storm rolled through town in the early evening of last October 23, lightning struck the base of the old steeple. The fire quickly shot up the steeple as firefighters began battling the blaze. The fire got into the void between the decorative ceiling and the roof, Fire Chief Michael Sullivan said at the time, and in short order the entire roof was on fire.
“There was no stopping it once it got into that concealed ceiling space,” Sullivan said the following day. The fire went to seven alarms and the church was a total loss.
Rev. Dr. Norman Bendroth, interim minister of the First Baptist Church, recently wrote about the process leading up to the vote to rebuild.
“The first three months were spent cleaning up the site,” Rev. Bendroth wrote. “It was filled with asbestos and consequently an environmental hazard. We had to get bids from companies that specialized in cleaning up toxic waste as well as a certificate from the EPA and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection that it was OK to proceed.”
The church worked closely with an insurance adjuster to file a claim to get the maximum amount that the church’s insurance policy would allow, Rev. Bendroth said. Church members had to walk through every room and closet remembering what was there down to every stapler, choir robe, file cabinets, kitchen supplies and more.
“The process, though lengthy and complicated, went smoothly and we received a nice settlement,” Rev. Bendroth said. “We then had to select an investment firm to manage the money as we went through the rebuilding process.”
Church leaders took the time to meet with key town officials to gauge the community’s feelings.
“It was clear that everyone wanted us to rebuild and many had creative ideas for us to consider,” Rev. Bendroth said. “Suggestions included a gymnasium, a recovery drop-in center, a café for grandparents to take their grandkids since many are helping to raise them today, space for a pre-school and non-profit offices. To a person, people said Wakefield needed a mid-sized, flexible, multi-purpose space that could be used for worship and public meetings and arts events.”
According to Rev. Bendroth, the Church Council had four retreats to discuss many options for a building, distinguishing between essentials and dreams. It also became clear that this would be essentially a new church start. First Baptist was an aging, shrinking congregation before the fire and continues to be so.
Realizing that they could not sustain a new building by themselves the congregation began exploring ways to share the building. Considered were a merger with another church, sharing space with an ethnic Baptist church that has outgrown its space or maybe an interfaith center.
They had discussions with a retired architect in the congregation and brainstormed ideas for a new church.
Next steps will include putting out a request for proposals from architectural firms, interviewing several and selecting one, Rev. Bendroth wrote. Then comes drawing up a contract, hiring a project manager and then a construction company, followed by securing building permits, approval from the Zoning Board and hiring any other professionals needed to shepherd the project. This process alone could take seven to ten months. The entire project will take from two-and-a-half to three years to complete.
The First Baptist congregation will hold a special observance on the anniversary of the fire.
“On the anniversary of the fire (Wednesday, Oct. 23) we invite all who can join us to meet at the lot at 8 Lafayette St. at 6:30 p.m.” Melinda Parry said. “We will be having a short candle-lighting and memorial prayer service at the site commemorating that fateful day, but more specially to declare a hope that beauty will yet rise from the ashes, as the prophet Isaiah put it. We invite everyone to join us in a spirit of oneness and community.
