SHELBY, N.C. — The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office does not believe the fire that canceled Sunday service at Dover Baptist Church was intentional.
Portions of the church were still crumbling and falling to the ground after that big fire on Monday.
Both church members and the sheriff told Channel 9’s David Faherty there is no sign of foul play in how it started. Neighbors say it broke out around 7 a.m. Sunday morning, and firefighters scrambled to get to the scene.
“It broke my heart,” neighbor Violet Crowder said, “You hate to see a fire anywhere but a church.”
Violet Crowder woke up to a line of fire trucks right out her front door.
Dover Baptist has been in Shelby for more than 100 years, starting as a church for a Mill Village in the area.
Church member Joe Thurkill has gone to the church his entire life. He rushed over after learning of the fire and the alarms.
“It’s kinda like losing a family member,” Thurkill said, “Even though it’s just a building and the people are the church, not the building. It’s still just a huge hole in your heart.”
After the roof caved in, destroying everything inside, there is little to salvage. Bulo Price pastored at Dover Baptist for more than 15 years.
“God is always there,” Price said, “Never leaves us. Never forsakes us. He is still good; He is still God, and we will be fine there”
Members here tell me the church does have insurance. Already other congregations across the area have offered space for them to worship.