PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — One of the oldest Methodist churches in Virginia is holding a service on Thursday, one year after it was heavily damaged in a fire.
Firefighters responded to Monumental United Methodist Church in downtown Portsmouth twice on Jan. 3, 2018 to battle flames which engulfed the church’s steeple.
The blaze could be seen from WAVY’s Tower Cam 10 that afternoon. Several other buildings in the area caught on fire due to burning debris from the church.
The fire rekindled later in the evening but was eventually extinguished.
Portsmouth fire officials determined the fire was sparked by a torch that was being used for construction work on the church.
The church held a luncheon three weeks later for the emergency personnel who responded to the fire.
In a Facebook post on New Year’s Eve, the church said it is holding a “Service of Blessings” on Jan. 3, 2019 to commemorate the one year anniversary of the fire.
The service is slated to be held at 7 p.m.
