Fire that ravaged historic East Baltimore church ‘didn’t burn our faith,’ pastor says a day later

March 05--Pastor Marshall Lee Barnes has barely eaten or slept since the moment he first smelled smoke at his East Baltimore church Sunday morning.

Instead, Barnes has been on the phone, fielding dozens of calls from religious leaders across the city, all offering help to the now-displaced congregants of the historic Grace Memorial Baptist Church.

"There's been an overwhelming outpouring of love," he said. "The church community and pastors, both black and white, have been overwhelmingly helpful. They're offering if I need to use their place, give them a call. If we need a place to meet, give them a call."

About two dozen parishioners had been learning about the story of Abraham and Isaac during Sunday school when a two-alarm fire broke out at about 10:30 a.m. All were able to escape the building safely, and firefighters worked to contain the flames billowing from the church's roof.

"The fire may have burned our building, but it didn't burn our faith," Barnes said. "We're grateful that we're all intact. We plan to be back on the corner of Chase and Eden streets as soon as possible."

But at this point, Barnes doesn't know a timeline for when the building will be inhabitable once again. Still in the early stages of dealing with the chaos, he hasn't had a chance to meet with the insurance adjuster.

Barnes also doesn't know yet where the church will meet this Sunday -- but not for lack of options.

"Well over 50 churches have offered their space," he said, noting that Mayor Catherine Pugh has also pledged her support in helping the congregation find a temporary fix.

Still, he said he worries about what will happen to the people who relied on the church's Tuesday soup kitchen.

Grace Memorial Baptist Church was incorporated in 1927 and was originally housed at the Star Theatre Auditorium on Monument Street. It's now located at 1100 N. Eden St.

As it would be in any church that dates back nine decades, Barnes said, there were historic items lost to the fire. He hasn't been able to go into the building to assess the losses yet.

"We're just grateful everyone is safe," he said. "We're not hung up on crosses and steeples. It's people you can not replace."

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Baltimore City Fire Department spokeswoman Blair Skinner said.

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