St Andrews Mt Pleasant destroyed by early morning fire

The Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America has written to the College of Bishops asking them to pray for the people and clergy of St Andrew’s Church in Mount Pleasant, S.C., after it was badly damaged by fire early Sunday morning.

At approximately 4:00 am on the morning of 22 April 2018 a fire broke out in the church’s modern worship center and office area. The structure, built in 1996 next to its historic 1857 chapel to serve its 3800 members, was destroyed by the blaze. Though doused with water, the chapel was unharmed. The parish preschool was also undamaged but was closed this week. The Mount Pleasant Fire Department assisted by agents of the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the blaze. No one was injured, however.

On the morning of April 22, the Most Rev. Foley Beach sent an email to members of the College of Bishops.  

I am writing to ask you to pray for Bishop Steve Wood and the people of St. Andrew’s, Mt. Pleasant, SC.  This morning their Ministry Center caught on fire and burnt to the ground. As you may remember from having our Provincial Council meeting there, this was their main worship space and housed numerous ministries. At this early time, it looks like the historic Church building next door was saved. Pray for Steve, his staff, the vestry, and the congregation as they face crucial decisions and grieve the loss of so much.  

“The Lord promises to bring beauty out of ashes,” the Rt. Rev. Stephen D. Wood, rector of St Andrew’s and Bishop of the Carolinas told the Post & Courier,  “and we’re taking him at his word.”

N.b., this story was updated to restate the church’s membership.