Sixth Suspicious Church Fire in Seven Months Occurred in Charles City County, Virginia

A church is burned to the ground in Charles City County. It's the sixth suspicious church fire in seven months.

The call came in about 5:00am Monday, but fire officials say the blaze was so intense there wasn't much they could do but try to contain it. St. John's Baptist Church had stood for over 100 years on Roxbury Road in Charles City County, not far from the Henrico County line. Now, the only thing left is the front vestibule.

Fire officials tell us crews from 4 different companies were brought in to fight the blaze. The ATF, FBI and State Police have also been called in to investigate.

Several church members apparently tried to help save the church but could only watch as their church burned down.

Most of the parishioners have attended the church all of their lives. In fact, many of their ancestors are buried in the church cemetery. For them a big piece of their memory has been turned to ashes.

The church was built in 1897 by hand. Many of the members are descendants of the people who founded it. They say they're devastated by the loss of the building, but for them the spirit of the church is more than just the structure.

"Just like you seen this thing standing here, the vestibule, still standing, the people of St. John's Baptist Church are still standing as well," says Reverend Ellsworth Tait.

The parishioners say some of the things lost in the fire didn't have much monetary value but in some ways they were far more valuable.

"Even though we've lost a lot of physical things, there are a lot of things that can't be replaced. I grew up in this church, attended every Sunday, family church," said one church member.

Services will be at Samaria Baptist Church on Sundays at 11:30am. The address is 8130 Lott Cary Rd. in Providence Forge, VA.

St. John's was scheduled to be a polling place for today's primary election. Union Baptist Church at 5801 Old Union Road in Charles City will now serve those who were supposed to vote at St. John's.

For more information on services call 804-829-2926.