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Fire destroys historic Ohio sanctuary, building
By Celeste Kennel-Shank Mennonite Weekly ReviewA fire on July 13 destroyed part of a church building in Holmes County, Ohio, that was more than 100 years old.
Firefighters work July 13 to contain a fire in the older section of Martins Creek Mennonite Church in Holmes County, Ohio. — Photo by Lee Miller
Electrical wiring in one the walls caught the roof on fire, according to fire investigators, said Carl Wiebe, pastor.
Martins Creek Mennonite Church near Millersburg lost its former sanctuary, which had housed 18 classrooms for Sunday school and children’s church activities.
“It’s a special place where our people had celebrated baby dedications, baptisms and weddings,” Wiebe said. “It’s a place of history, where we met God.”
That part of the building was the main church — completed in 1906, with 1955 additions — until the congregation dedicated its new sanctuary in 1997.
The new sanctuary was not damaged, though a light smoke smell lingered, Wiebe said.
Two events were providential in when the fire happened that contributed to firefighters stopping it, he said.
“Not that God did this, obviously, but some things really came together well so that we could continue to worship in this new sanctuary,” Wiebe said.
First, the congregation had recently put in a city water line near the church, with a hydrant 15 feet from the old sanctuary.
“That water line really helped save this new building,” he said.
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