Barbara Walker said she had a lump in her throat before the news was delivered Monday night.
She was among about 30 people who gathered to learn the future of Trinity United Church of Christ in Indiana Township, which was heavily damaged by fire May 6.
“I grew up in the church,” Walker said. “Whatever happens, we’ll make it work.”
The Rev. David Mears, along with members of the church restoration committee, braced for what they called a difficult conversation.
“We are at a very important moment in the life of Trinity,” Mears told the crowd. “It’s a hard message to hear, but the sanctuary has to be demolished.”
The fire at the 150-year-old church building on Saxonburg Boulevard was ruled accidental by the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office. No one was injured.
“The building doesn’t look so bad from the outside,” Mears said. “Inside, it’s a whole other story.”
The roof in the rear of the building is shot. The plaster walls of the interior are saturated with water. The pews and floor are covered with charred remains and waterlogged insulation. The piano is covered with soot and water; it cannot be saved.
Tim Danehy, a committee member, said the church was insured for about $2 million, but costs to rebuild won’t be determined until a design is formalized.
The goal is to rebuild the church so it looks as similar as possible, on the exterior, to the existing church. Danehy said it is hoped that the stained-glass windows can be salvaged and reused, but none of the contractors contacted would guarantee their safety.
Trinity is marking its 175th year, though the current church building was constructed 150 years ago.
Danehy believes reconstruction is a chance to enhance the church’s accessibility. Rooms under the sanctuary were unusable because the ceilings were too low, he said. Much of it wasn’t up to code.
“This is our opportunity to create a sanctuary that works for the church today and in the future,” Mears said.
A timeline of about two years is expected for demolition, design and construction.
During the meeting, members voted to hire a Canonsburg-based architect, 980 Designs, and P2 Contracting of Pittsburgh.
A permit for demolition is expected to be secured within the month. The cost is expected to top $200,000.
There is potential for an outdoor service in the church parking lot prior to the building being torn down, Mears said.
There was good news to come out of the meeting: The church’s fellowship hall, built separately from the church in 1957, escaped fire damage.
There will need to be smoke and water remediation, along with painting and recarpeting, but that section of the church can remain intact. A wall will be built to protect the fellowship hall from work on the church side of the building.
Danehy said drying out fellowship hall is an immediate goal. Much of the contents are already safe.
“The music in the file cabinets, the historical books, the Christ candle — all dry,” Mears said.
If all goes to plan, the congregation will be able to gather for Sunday services in the fellowship hall by late winter.
Remediation is expected to cost about $120,000, which Mears said is serendipitously the amount donated in recent weeks to the church through a GoFundMe, from private gifts and from other churches.
Gwen Phillips, a parishioner, said her hope is to remain together as a church community and support each other during the transition.
“We are the church, and we will rebuild,” member Lorraine Udanis said.
Since the fire, the congregation has traveled to rotating sites for 10:30 a.m. services. A long-term location has been secured at Perman Funeral Home in Shaler.
Owner Frank Perman has donated the space for free, saying “churches are an important part of the fabric of our community. We are glad to provide a temporary gathering place while Trinity works toward returning home.”