Denver Church Organizing Fundraiser To Rebuild After Fire
DENVER (CBS4)- Insurance adjusters are spending the day at a Denver church that caught fire on Monday.
While they're assessing the damage and how much it will cost to repair the facility, parishioners are already doing their own damage control.
They're organizing a fundraiser to contribute to the rebuilding process.
"I am no saddened by the damage done to the church, we have the ability to rebuild and renew," said Church of the Ascension Priest Father Lucas Grubbs.
The fire broke out after 3 a.m. at the 109-year-old Church of the Ascension near Gilpin Street and 6th.
Officials with the Denver Fire Department said the inside of the church was heavily damaged including the sanctuary and stained glass windows.
Although those damaged areas are still off limits but parishioners are busy in other areas of the church collecting items for a big garage sale scheduled for Saturday.
The parish-wide garage sale is designed to raise money for rebuilding but also raise spirits after a difficult week.
"It's good for morale, it's good for visibility in the neighborhood as a strong, vibrant neighborhood," said Grubbs.
Grubbs said they plan to have church services Sunday morning, however they will be held in the chapel at the far end of the structure.
"Pentecost Sunday is where we celebrate God's gift of the Holy Spirit in the form of flames. I'm calling it a sacred irony this week that we had a fire in the week preceding Pentecost," said Grubbs.
In 1917 the church was almost destroyed by an electrical fire. This time parishioners are sad to say they believe a person may be to blame.
Fire investigators are still trying to determine the exact cause of the fire.
The huge sale will begin Saturday at 9 a.m. across the street from the church in the parking lot. All proceeds benefit the Church of the Ascension.
LINK: Church of the Ascension
