Church Catches Fire In Denver Neighborhood

DENVER (CBS4) - Firefighters rushed to a fire at a church in Denver's North Park Hill neighborhood Wednesday morning. Fire investigators are trying to figure out what started the fire.

When they showed up at the Greater Temple of Jerusalem Church of God & Christ on 36th and Grape smoke was pouring out of the roof.

No one was hurt, but the building was heavily damaged. There is a lot of smoke damage to the exterior. The interior suffered a lot of fire damage.

The fire was put out before 8 a.m. Firefighters said they had to force their way into the structure.

"I just fell out on my knees right there and started praying and said, 'Lord, don't let it be too bad,' " church member James Kelly said.

The church has been out of use for about a year since Bishop Kelly died about a year ago except for weekly Bible study groups. Members are heartbroken over the fire damage.

"It makes me feel very bad because he certainly had done a lot of ministering to a lot of people here in this jurisdiction and of church of God and Christ," said church member Leola Nubine.

"This is my grandparents' dream, this is our legacy, something that we're supposed to go forth in and now it just seems like our dream has been destroyed," said church member Victoria Norman.

The church was established in the neighborhood in the 1950s. It is well-known by many people in the community.

Those devastated by the loss said they are determined to rebuild and keep the pastor's mission and legacy alive.

Fire investigators said it's too early to determine a cause but believe the fire may be electrical.