Greeneville, Tenn. - On November 24th, 2007 the sanctuary, fellowship hall, and Sunday school classrooms of Baileyton United Methodist Church were destroyed by a massive fire.
For the past 17 months, churchgoers held worship service at the nearby Baileyton School, raised funds, and prayed for a new facility.
On Sunday, they broke ground on the building that will replace the more than 100-year-old structure they lost. Church leaders said it could be completed as early as Thanksgiving of 2009.
Investigators determined the fire started in the church furnace, Baileyton United Methodist Chairman Ken Bailey Jr. said. No foul play was ever suspected.
Lifelong church member and volunteer firefighter Rob Bailey told 11 Connects he was fighting back tears two Novembers ago. He burned his hands trying to rescue a historic bell from the flames. That bell broke into three pieces -- but a Greeneville business put it back together. The reminder will be on display in the new church. "I was fighting back a tear of joy today," Rob Bailey said.
Baileyton United Methodist was founded in 1905. Their ranks actually grew over the past 17 months (without a proper house of worship) from 40 to roughly 45 members.
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