Rebuilding Efforts for Religious Institutions Devastated by Southern California Fires
In the early hours of a Wednesday morning, Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Altadena received a devastating text message. A congregant had forwarded an image of their sanctuary engulfed in flames, a tragic victim of the Eaton fire. The church, standing since 1949 with a community history dating back to 1906, faced a heartbreaking loss.
Community Devastation and Loss
The destruction extended beyond Saint Mark’s, as at least 11 other religious institutions in Southern California fell victim to the firestorm. Churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples all faced complete devastation, leaving their congregations reeling from the loss. Some communities reported that up to three-fourths of their members had lost their homes or schools in the fires, compounding the individual suffering.
Rebuilding and Fundraising Efforts
Despite the profound losses, efforts to rebuild and raise funds have already begun. Saint Mark’s not only lost its sanctuary but also its adjacent school, impacting 70 employees and 325 students from preschool through sixth grade. Rev. Grindon estimated that around 40 members of the congregation had also lost their homes in the fire.
Amidst the devastation, a glimmer of hope emerged when the newly built preschool at Saint Mark’s was miraculously spared from the flames. This small victory in the face of tragedy served as a beacon of hope for the community, inspiring them to rebuild and move forward.
Supporting Affected Institutions
Several other religious institutions, such as Altadena Community Church, Altadena United Methodist Church, and Lifeline Fellowship Christian Center, also faced total losses. The Pasadena Church of Christ, Corpus Christi Church, Masjid Al-Taqwa, and Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center were among the many others affected by the fires.
The Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, St. Matthew’s Parish School, and Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church were also significantly impacted, with many congregants losing their homes in addition to the destruction of their places of worship and education.
As these communities come together to support one another in the face of tragedy, donations and fundraising efforts have been established to aid in the rebuilding process. The outpouring of support from both local and online communities demonstrates the resilience and unity of those affected by the fires as they work towards restoring what was lost.
