Historic churches destroyed by fires in Michigan and Alabama

Two historic churches in the United States were severely damaged or destroyed by fires in late August.

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, a 133-year-old building belonging to the LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church was completely destroyed. The structure, originally built around 1894 as the All Souls Universalist Church, suffered a fire that originated in the basement, causing floors and ceilings to collapse. Three firefighters were injured by falling bricks but have since returned to duty. Local authorities stated that there is currently no suspicion of criminal activity, and the cause remains under investigation.

Days earlier, the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Pennington, located in Choctaw County, Alabama, was also burned to the ground. Established in 1850, the church had served the local community for over 175 years. The cause of this fire is also currently unknown and under investigation.