A fire on the morning of Jan. 2 destroyed the sanctuary and adjoining educational wing of Abner Creek Baptist Church, Greer, which in September had celebrated its 175th anniversary.
Pastor Frank Keels said the blaze was believed to have started around 10 a.m. in the attic of the educational wing, which was undergoing renovation. Workers were in the building at the time, but no one was injujred. The pastor said that no foul play is suspected and that the church is fully insured.
The church’s gym and family life center survived the fire, but both suffered significant water damage, according to Keels, who on Jan. 3 received a visit from Jim Austin, executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
Keels told the Courier that the response from church members and the community at large “has been very positive.”
At the Courier’s deadline, no decision had been made about temporary meeting quarters for the congregation, although Keels said that the Cornerstone Theater in Lyman, which is operated by South Carolina Baptist Bill Cox and features Christian drama, is a likely choice for the time being.
Abner Creek – which started off in a log cabin in 1832 and owns 29 acres of land at the site of the destroyed facilities – will rebuild, although not necessarily on the same spot, according to Keels.
There is no estimate of damage yet.
“God didn’t start this fire, but he allowed it and he can use it for good,” Keels said, adding, “The Lord was on his throne then, and he is on his throne now.”
Abner Creek constructed three sanctuaries in its 175-year history, in 1858, 1901, and the one destroyed on Jan. 2 in 1963.