2008 Woodie Awards
Fire at 'Rock' Church
Services are being held in gym
Ian Darnell
Issue date: 8/24/07 Section: News
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St. Alphonsus Ligouri "Rock" Catholic Church-a historic Gothic structure noted for its exuberant services and diverse congregation-was devastated by a fire last week.
Located near Saint Louis University's campus and frequented by some of its students, the church's interior suffered extensive damage and is currently unusable. Efforts to repair the building have already begun, however, and the church's parishioners and supporters have united in the face of the disaster.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the fire began after lightning struck the Rock at about 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16. Flames soon engulfed the building, gutting the interior and burning through parts of the roof. The fire also destroyed one of the church's stained glass windows.
Firefighters were able to contain the blaze by 9 p.m., and the church's solid stone walls remained unharmed. The church's massive steeple-a fixture of the central St. Louis skyline visible from parts of SLU's campus-also survived the conflagration.
Yesterday, a week after the fire, the Rock's front entrance was boarded over and displayed a sign reading: "Danger, the premise is unsafe … all persons are warned to keep away."
Windows on the first floor were also shuttered, and charred debris surrounded parts of the church. Construction workers and equipment were present and beginning repairs.
Standing just blocks north of SLU at the intersection of Grand Boulevard and Cook Avenue, the Rock has been an important place of worship in the area since its dedication in 1872. Although part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the church's priests are members of the Redemptorist order.
The Rock's congregation is largely black, and the Sunday masses include a traditional African-American gospel choir. The priests' sermons are often energetic and emphasize audience participation.
Gina Meyer, a SLU senior majoring in theology, first attended mass at the Rock as a sophomore. She has attended mass there about once a month ever since.
Located near Saint Louis University's campus and frequented by some of its students, the church's interior suffered extensive damage and is currently unusable. Efforts to repair the building have already begun, however, and the church's parishioners and supporters have united in the face of the disaster.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the fire began after lightning struck the Rock at about 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16. Flames soon engulfed the building, gutting the interior and burning through parts of the roof. The fire also destroyed one of the church's stained glass windows.
Firefighters were able to contain the blaze by 9 p.m., and the church's solid stone walls remained unharmed. The church's massive steeple-a fixture of the central St. Louis skyline visible from parts of SLU's campus-also survived the conflagration.
Yesterday, a week after the fire, the Rock's front entrance was boarded over and displayed a sign reading: "Danger, the premise is unsafe … all persons are warned to keep away."
Windows on the first floor were also shuttered, and charred debris surrounded parts of the church. Construction workers and equipment were present and beginning repairs.
Standing just blocks north of SLU at the intersection of Grand Boulevard and Cook Avenue, the Rock has been an important place of worship in the area since its dedication in 1872. Although part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the church's priests are members of the Redemptorist order.
The Rock's congregation is largely black, and the Sunday masses include a traditional African-American gospel choir. The priests' sermons are often energetic and emphasize audience participation.
Gina Meyer, a SLU senior majoring in theology, first attended mass at the Rock as a sophomore. She has attended mass there about once a month ever since.
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