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Fire severely damages Baltimore church

Bishop calls for prayer for the people of Northwood-Appold UMC
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By Erik Alsgaard

The cross atop the steeple of Northwood-Appold UMC is about the only undamaged item after an early morning four-alarm fire Friday, Dec. 27, extensively damaged the church in northeast Baltimore, gutting the structure.

No injuries were reported in the blaze, which is under investigation. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

Bishop Marcus Matthews of the Baltimore-Washington Conference immediately issued a statement, calling for prayers and support for the church; its pastor, the Rev. Cecil Gray; and the surrounding community.

"We pray that God will grant them comfort and courage in the face of adversity," the bishop wrote.

The congregation is unique, Bishop Matthews noted, because it also hosts and operates a public charter school across the street from the church. The Northwood Appold Community Academy, which was not damaged, hosts 332 students in grades K through 5.

The congregation will worship at the school, said Gray, who was travelling after the Christmas services and was not present during the fire.

"With God's help, mercy and grace, the physical edifice known as Northwood-Appold United Methodist Church will be rebuilt," Gray wrote in an e-mail as he rushed home. "NAUMC will be stronger than before. Resurrection is occurring even now."

Sandy Ferguson, director of connectional ministries for the Baltimore-Washington Conference, is expecting that churches around the conference will join in the rebuilding. Hours after the fire had been put out, the BWC's disaster response team and Volunteers in Mission were considering how they might provide assistance.

"This is what the connectional system does, we support each other in times of crisis with prayer, resources and hands-on help," Ferguson said. 

Warren and Janice Teeple stood at the intersection of Loch Raven Boulevard and Cold Spring Road, on the morning of the fire. The crystal clear winter's day allowed them to see right through the church building, where they have been members since 1947. Now in their early 90s, the Teeple's couldn't believe what they were seeing.

"I'm very sad," said Janis. "I just called my son in Texas and told him. He was married here."

The Teeple's four children grew up in the church, she said, and she had cooked hundreds of meals in the church's kitchen. Both Janis and Warren were scout leaders, she said, and they both sang in the choir.

"This church is just part of you," Janis said. "I've been up since 3 o'clock. I heard the roar of the fire trucks and I looked out my front window. I couldn't see the church, but when I walked outside, I just went 'oh, it's the church."

The Rev. Raphael Koikoi, associate pastor at Emory UMC in Washington, D.C., received his call to ministry in 1990, while he was a member of Northwood-Appold.

"The church has always been a beacon in this community," he said. "Since 2002, the vision has been one of excellence in education."

The fire “tore down a place that I call home, a place of lots of memories: first sermon, first youth ministry position, my first experience of a female pastor," said Koikoi. In the wake of the fire, which devastated the church building, he said he’s “been reminded that the church is family."