Overbrook Presbyterian Church rebuilds after devastating fire one year ago
OVERBROOK - The Overbrook Presbyterian Church is rebuilding after fire destroyed their sanctuary one year ago.
The smoke damage spread throughout the property and now, a year later, church members held a prayer walk inside the gutted building, as they reflect on the challenges of the past year and share plans to rebuild.
What we know:
The minister, Dr. Adams Hearlson said after months of investigation, the Fire Marshal said a bucket of linseed oil was determined to be the cause.
"Last year, we had a group of people who were cleaning parts of the church, the pews, with linseed oil rags. After they finished, those were put in a bucket and, unfortunately and accidentally, we stored the bucket here," said Dr. Hearlson. "Linseed oil, when it’s stored in an enclosed environment like that, it can spontaneously combust and so it caught on fire."
What they're saying:
"In the reliving and the retelling of the stories, it was so uplifting," said Sharon Parker, Parish Care Associate. "We just knew we had to keep going and it was that strength and determination that has forged many new friendships in the community, really long-lasting life partnerships across faith communities. The dreaming has already started as we think about the return home."
Church deacon Mads Cosgriff said he grew up in the church, then returned a decade later as an adult for the Sunday service last year before the fire. Cosgriff said he was inspired to return the very next day for the MLK Day of Service activities at the church, and sadly that very night it burned.
"I’m just thrilled to have this beautiful faith community here and to be part of restoring the church building as well. I think speaking allowed our experiences here as an act of love and I was able to contribute some of the small things, especially as a kid here that I knew parents wouldn’t have homed in on. It’s kind of rejuvenating to give voice to what was important about this building before the fire, as a way to kind of cleanse, soothe our souls."
"Even a year on, I feel like we are stronger today than we were a year ago in part because we recognize there’s an internal resilience in the church, but there is also an incredible network of partners, and friends and colleagues who are here to support us in times of trouble," said Dr. Hearlson.
By the numbers:
Hearlson said the church is estimating repairs to cost upwards of $10 million on the historic building and they are working with insurance to learn what will be covered. In addition, the church has bigger plans to fundraise for capital improvements.
What's next:
To commemorate one year since the fire, Hearlson said the church plans to raise financial support for the Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church that was destroyed in the Los Angeles Wildfires.
"It also keeps in our hearts and minds right now the terrible fires in California, and we’re looking to see what we can do to ease some of that burden and some of that pain," said Parker. "We understand gratitude more deeply, we suffered through grief together, we’re experiencing gratitude together and that’s part of the Overbrook strong."
The church hopes to be back in the sanctuary by Christmas 2025, and even sooner into the rest of the building.
What you can do:
If you’d like to show your support in person, you can attend Overbrook Presbyterian’s Sunday Service at Penn Wynne Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m.
The church is planning to host its annual T-shirt memorial for gun violence victims on Saturday morning, January 18th. The shirts will be put up around the ground at City and Lancaster Avenues on Monday, January 20.