Following Fire, Many Parishioners Want To Save Benwood Church

BENWOOD - Still in shock from seeing their church damaged by a massive fire, members of the St. John Catholic Church on Wednesday said they hoped the 140-year-old building can be saved.

Engineers could be seen assessing the damage on Wednesday morning, hoisted to the top of the church in a crane from Savage Construction. Bryan Minor, spokesman for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, said the diocese is waiting for the engineer's report before making a decision about whether the church can be saved.

"The work by the structural engineer will take time. They have to check on how strong the walls are and how strong floor is under the pews. The fire department told us on Monday there was a foot or more of water lying on the floor - that's a lot weight," Minor said. "We're preceding with an abundance of caution until we get the full engineering report."

Photo by Shelley Hanson A charred timber pokes through a stained glass window at the St. John Catholic Church in Benwood on Wednesday morning.

Photo by Shelley Hanson Engineers check on the condition of the St. John Catholic Church in Benwood on Wednesday.

Minor said the parish school's students are on spring break next week and are scheduled to come back to class April 13. Even though damage to the school was minimal, Minor said if the students cannot use the building, other possible structures are being looked at for them to finish out the year in.

"The problem is with the walls. With the school there, we have to know if it's in danger of falling," he said.

Also at the scene Wednesday were agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as officials with the state Fire Marshal's office. Minor said ATF officials told the diocese it was "standard procedure" to assist the fire marshal in investigations. He said the fire marshal's office said the cause still is being determined, but no one believes it was arson.

Several city residents were seen walking along Main Street on Wednesday, talking to each other about the fire and the fate of the church.

Lifelong Benwood resident David Branicky attended St. John's parish school as a child and was an altar boy for the church. He remembers how nervous he was the first time he had to read the epistle in front of the congregation. It was something usually reserved for adults, he said.

More:
Following Fire, Many Parishioners Want To Save Benwood Church