Wakefield seeks history in ruins
The Wakefield First Baptist Church congregation is hoping to salvage a bell and some historical documents from the wreckage left behind after a seven-alarm fire gutted their historic church on Lafayette Street earlier this week. “We are searching the rubble for a number of things,” said Melinda Parry, church moderator. “We saved a few pieces. We’ll see what we can salvage. We’re hoping to find the bell and some safes with historical documents.” A painting of Jesus that hung in the church entryway was miraculously recovered from the flames unscathed, church officials said. The church, built in 1872, went up in flames Tuesday night after an apparent lightning strike hit the 150-foot steeple, causing it to catch fire. The blaze caused more than $1 million in damages and rendered the building a total loss. The fire devastated the Wakefield community — faithful and nonfaithful alike — as the building on the town green was seen as an iconic landmark. A GoFundMe account has been set up for the church by Emily Brown, the daughter of a former pastor. As of last night, $6,621 of the $50,000 goal had been raised. “A beloved Wakefield landmark was struck by lightning Tuesday night,” Brown wrote. “Not only is this an historic building and a beautiful part of our town’s charm, but this has been a place of worship for more than 100 years. As the former pastor’s daughter and having grown up running through the halls, discovering secret hiding spots in the church, it breaks my heart that what I’ve considered a second home has burned down in the blink of an eye.” Parry says the outpouring of support from the community has been “wonderful.” “We are really grateful,” Parry said. “It’s just been wonderful.” The Wakefield Interfaith Clergy Association held a prayer service last night at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Wakefield. And the First Parish Congregational Church is offering its chapel Sunday for the First Baptist congregation to worship at 10:15 a.m. The Wakefield Co-operative Bank is also setting up an account for the church, Parry said. “We’ll be looking to God for guidance for the next steps,” Parry said. “We’re still in shock, a bit overwhelmed.”