Historic Winder church destroyed in blaze

A Thursday night fire, apparently caused by a lightning strike, destroyed a restored, historic church near downtown Winder. The Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit on Center Street is the site of the old Methodist church. The building was constructed in 1904 and was painstakingly restored by the current congregation several years ago. Winder fire chief Matt Whiting said the cause of the fire will not be known for certain until his department conducts an investigation. But he said the blaze occurred during a short-lived, but intense, lightning storm that arrived in the city sometime after 10:30 p.m. on July 26. When city firefighters responded to a report of heavy black smoke coming from the top of the church, they discovered flames on the left side of the roof. Whiting said they attempted to go inside the building, but the fire was too far advanced. They went back outside, and their task then became to contain the destruction to the church itself and to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby businesses and homes.
"With an old building like that, when the fire breaks through the roof, there is very little we can do because of the wood and materials and the way it was constructed," Whiting said. "So our efforts were to protect the houses and businesses around it, and we were successful doing that. But unfortunately the church is destroyed." Every piece of the city's firefighting equipment was used, and Barrow County Emergency Services also responded with engines and emergency medical units staffed with personnel who also fight fires. A county source said that at the time of the church fire, there were so many emergency calls throughout the county, mostly due to lightning strikes, that BCES had to request "mutual aid" assistance from Jackson County. Whiting said no one was injured in the blaze.

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#1 OldProspector on 07/27/12 at 07:46 AM [Reply]

why's it always gotta be black smoke?

#2 Anonymous on 07/27/12 at 08:16 AM [Reply]

Because the smoke is black.

#3 anon on 07/27/12 at 08:27 AM [Reply]

Really? Your going to ask a stupid question like that? You must be a lonely moron.

#4 Anonymous on 07/27/12 at 08:40 AM [Reply]

So the city requested additional help from the county and then we requested even more help from Jackson County sounds like we need more equipment and fire fighters.

#4.1 Anonymous on 07/27/12 at 09:40 AM [Reply]

"WE" requested more help from "Jackson County", are you speaking as third party stating that units from a Jackson fire dept assisted WFD, or are you with a fire department?

As many may not know, there is NOT a "Jackson County Fire Dept" like many areas but a large group of Independent Fire Districts that operate independently (fire tax from each district supports that department), so the stations are not just "nicknamed" like we refer to the "Countyline station"*(BCFD#5) or "Auburn station"(BCFD#4), the West Jackson Fire Dept (for an example) IS the West Jackson district's Fire Dept.

There are some City Operated Departments within Jackson Co but when you say we called for assistance we may have recieved "mutual aid" from one of their bordering fire districts (I would guess it would probably have been WJFD only due to Barrow works close with them in the NW part of the county). FYI.

Some Fires just need more help to fight, I understand that Barrow Fire is understaffed somewhat, so they if they were properly OR fully staffed,it may have been enough, or not...

#5 george griffith on 07/27/12 at 08:41 AM [Reply]

congradulations to the winder fire dept and other emergency units of barrow co., wgo fought the fire at the church. saving ajoining homes and business. wonderful job!
thanks chief matt whiting, and crews

#6 Samantha Lewis on 07/27/12 at 09:14 AM [Reply]

This is so saddening. The Adairs are such wonderful, loving people and we will be praying for them and their congregation.

#7 Helen Person on 07/27/12 at 09:30 AM [Reply]

The Winder Fire Department and Barrow County Emergency Services units did a great job with every aspect of the fire last night. Thanks to all of them! To Anonymous: A fire of this magnitude is the exception rather than the norm. It is not uncommon at all for fire departments in neighboring counties to go on mutual aid to help cover incidents that may occur while the home department is involved with a major event. In the Atlanta area, adjacent counties often help cover when there is a major incident. Governments cannot staff and outfit for the exceptions - we, the people, can't afford to fund the exceptions. We just have to work together when those times occur.

#7.1 Annon on 07/27/12 at 12:45 PM [Reply]

Well said. And isn't good we can all work together and accomplish so much! You are right on point and as I'm sure other municipalities could not afford more for an rare hugh event so it is really a win win for all. As I said it's great that we can all work together. It just shows they are not into it for the money but rather the preservation of life and property. Things they risk their lives for!

God Bless and a hugh Thanks to all of them.

#8 Michelle Walker on 07/27/12 at 09:46 AM [Reply]

Linda and Phil - we are so sorry! You have put your hearts into this facility and this is such a devastating loss. Winder has lost another piece of its history.

#9 Ethan Sargent on 07/27/12 at 10:09 AM [Reply]

I was driving by last night and we saw a fire and then we found out it was the church.

#10 Nic on 07/27/12 at 11:38 AM [Reply]

I hope the set up some time of fund where we can donate money to help with any type of funding the need to get back on their feet! such a sad loss for winder. All of the historic buildings are falling down like dominos. The Granite hotel and now this.

#11 Very Sad Day on 07/27/12 at 11:55 AM [Reply]

Very Sad to see once again the destruction of a significant older structure in Downtown Winder.

Slowly the character of the city is erroding away with constant losses of historic properties that gave showed the long history of Winder and its significance. Slowly we loss all the irreplaceable buildings and are left with little, It is Sad for the Church and Winder & Barrow County. I hope we can preserve what we have left in the future. Sad we werent alerted to the fire's presence before it was too late to stop it from total loss....

#11.1 Anonymous on 07/27/12 at 06:27 PM [Reply]

I agree that church was a horrible loss. The congregation obviously cared for it and it showed in its appearance. But the rest of the downtown OLD commercial buildings need to be replaced in my opinion. Occupants wont move in if they have to upgrade those buildings costing tens of thousands of dollars just to bring them up to code.

Like the Granite Hotel, replace them with something new, but also something that keeps the charm of the downtown area.

OLD does not equal HISTORIC.

#12 BranwynB on 07/27/12 at 12:12 PM [Reply]

Several friends of ours go to church there and when I read the article my 10 year old said, "When can we go help them clean up?" : ( Our prayers and support are offered up to the families this effects.

#12.1 Pantip on 07/28/12 at 01:04 AM [Reply]

Prayers won't help, but financial support would surely do.

It's a pity, one less heritage site to visit :(

#12.1.1 Anonymous on 07/28/12 at 02:40 PM [Reply]

Prayers wont help? What are you smoking?

#13 Anonie Mouse on 07/27/12 at 01:13 PM [Reply]

This is so sad. Just a few days ago, as we drove past the church, I told my husband how happy I was that someone had loved that church enough to restore it and how nice it looked now. Such an unfortunate loss for the church family and for our city.

#14 Bonnie on 07/28/12 at 09:13 AM [Reply]

While the loss of such a historic and beautiful landmark is indeed sad, it was only a building. The church which gathered there should continue to thrive and glorify God in the lives they live and united stand they take.

#15 daledewitt on 07/28/12 at 04:10 PM [Reply]

THAT S WAS A NICE CHURCH I ALWAYS DROVE BY IT TO LOOK AT IT

#16 Molly Mae on 07/28/12 at 09:12 PM [Reply]

Why would an all powerful god allow a beautiful, historic old building that existed to honor and worship him to be destroyed? Why would he not strike the crack house in my neighborhood instead? It would have prevented much heartache and provided a service to the community at the same time. Just wondering.

#16.1 Anonymous on 07/29/12 at 08:21 AM [Reply]

Why don't you ask Him ,molly. Chalk it up under the category of why bad things happen to good people.Say la vie and He is there to help us get through it all.

#16.1.1 Anonymous on 07/29/12 at 08:55 AM [Reply]

"Say la vie"? Nothing is dumber than a person trying to use a 'smart' phrase and screwing it up.
Go back to French 101.

#16.2 really on 07/29/12 at 09:18 PM [Reply]

maybe like where the money folks gathered in the temples and God made end to them... just saying.
maybe like Jesus washing the feet of the prostitutes and not caring how the people coming to worship dressed or how much money they gave is one reason.
if you want to find a sinner one place to look is in a crackhouse, chances are greater those people are more open to becoming saved then many that show up at the church ignoring the sins they commit to thier friends families and others. at least crackheads realize they are not where they should be with God.... just like most folks in our prisons jails and mental health warehouses.
God is with us aways sometimes people gather not forhim but to be seen and heard not for his praise but for self praise or self adornment

#17 Anonymous on 07/29/12 at 12:55 AM [Reply]

I don't remember any other churches that burnt in Winder. But look at what they did to the old Baptist Church on Broad St. Tore it down and planted grass. And the old church that use stand at Candler and Woodland. Tore it down and made a parking lot.

#18 Anonymous on 07/29/12 at 09:11 PM [Reply]

Who cares if somebody "screwed up" a French phrase. The French are some o the most ungrateful and absolutely graceless people in the world.Their greatest contribution to society has been French fries and the French kiss along with various sayings that have become common place.k saraah saraah

#18.1 Anonymous on 07/29/12 at 11:41 PM [Reply]

The issue is not how much you hate the French, their language, culture, heritage or food. The point is that if you intend to present a facade of erudition or wit, get it right. Otherwise your ignorance is compounded by impotent affectation. And, BTW, it is a blessing that in this medium, your imitation of Doris Day is, thankfully, muted.

#18.2 elena on 07/30/12 at 05:46 AM [Reply]

?..french fries,french kissing you sound like a 5 th grader.You should read a little more ,the french did help us fight in the American revolution war.they also gave us a breath taking statue that stands for what we believe "Statue of Liberty" also a french woman by the named of Marie Curie invented the X ray that has helped the medicine world..We can not forget Louis Pasteur who invented rabies and anthrax vaccines..this is just a few .

#19 Anonymous on 07/31/12 at 07:13 AM [Reply]

Say la vie means "that is life" correct spelling? Get over it mr. Rudite ,you are in winder. Could it be that your attempted insult of me and my explanation to Molly is based on your anti Christian bias? Pseudo intellectuals like yourself love to condescend don't you.

#20 Anonymous on 08/06/12 at 01:04 AM [Reply]

I tend to believe that the GOOD LORD - JESUS CHRIST can take everything bad that happens & turn it around to make it for the best! I heard by the news the church family gathered together somewhere to still worship & praise the Lord - A-men! I hope & pray the Lord will bless that church family! Yeah, God cld had made the lighting hit a crack house or somewhere bad but that's where people that are lost from HIM are & God wants all us sinners to cry out to HIM for HIS LOVE & be SAVED!

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Historic Winder church destroyed in blaze

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