Body recovered from flame engulfed church in Athens
UPDATE: Tragedy struck a historic church in Athens Thursday evening.
The St. Mark AME Zion Church has been a part of the African-American community in Athens.
It has existed for well over 150 years.
Unfortunately, its congregation will have to figure out its future after the building was destroyed on Thursday by a fire.
Nick: After six p-m Thursday evening, a fire began in the back part of the church, and proceeded to engulf the building.
Athens Mayor Steven Sherlin confirmed that one person was found dead, and that death along with the cause of the fire is under investigation.
“By the time they got here it got engulfed pretty good it went up fast,” said Mayor Sherlin.
Their identity has not been released at this time.
The damage to the church was very evident on Friday, with debris strewn all over the property, and on the church pews that were just holding services a few days ago.
The history of this church is significant to Athens.
Mayor Sherlin said, “This area is known as the Free Hill area, and in the 1850s this is where the free blacks settled here in the Athens and McMinn County area. Until the 1960s it was predominantly a black area… 1960s, urban development displaced them and it was a tragic thing. This was the only vestige of the Free Hill community that was left.”
Other churches and community members say they have reached out to the congregation during their time of need.
“Of course you love the building, but it’s just a building. The church is the people, and God is with us wherever we are, wherever we meet and this is just a place of worship. It means to the congregation and the city and the community as well, and we all feel the loss, but it is something that can be replaced,” said Mayor Sherlin.
He did say the church has been in contact with its insurance company, and hopes to rebuild.
ATHENS, Tenn. (WDEF) — Firefighters have recovered a body from a church fire in Athens, Tennessee.
The call came on the evening of August 15, 2024, from the St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church, located at 707 N Jackson St.
Several fire stations responded to the scene including Bradley County, McMinn County, and Cleveland.
This incident is still under investigation.
