Ebenezer Baptist Church destroyed by fire in Pennington, Alabama

A fire destroyed the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Pennington, Alabama, on Tuesday night, August 18. The building, which was more than 175 years old, was declared a total loss by Jerry Snowden, the chairman of the church’s deacons.

Emergency responders, including the Pennington police, Choctaw County sheriff’s office, and emergency medical services, attended the scene. Firefighters worked to extinguish hot spots following the initial blaze, which began around 10 p.m. A fire marshal is expected to investigate the cause of the fire.

While the cause has not yet been determined, the incident has drawn attention to reported trends of vandalism and arson targeting churches across the United States.