Church destroyed in early morning blaze

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - An early morning fire damaged a Birmingham church on Thursday. The fire broke out at the Pleasant View Baptist Church just before 6:30 on Thursday morning. This church is located in the Airport Hills community of Birmingham.

The pastor was driving in the neighborhood this morning and saw flames coming from the church.

Firefighters say the sanctuary and basement were destroyed.

It took firefighters all morning to put the fire out. All church members could do is stand by and watch as the fire destroyed their place of worship. The roof collapsed and the steeple looked as if it was about to collapse.

The pastor tells us about 200 people belong to the church with about 60 people routinely attending service. The Pleasant View Baptist Church was organized in 1943. The church that burned was built in 1971.

One church member says the church is not about a building, it is about faith. "This whole community was like involved at pleasant View Baptist Church so it's a sad day to see it go but like I said before God does not make any mistakes,” says church member Doris Wallace. “We will survive and go on from here."
The pastor is not sure if the church will be rebuilt.