A historic church in Texas was destroyed in a fire early Monday morning.
The 163-year-old church served as an ammunition warehouse for Confederate leaders during the Civil War. The church is one of the “few examples of monumentally scaled Greek Revival church architecture in the state,” KLTV reported.
According to Stephen F. Austin State University Center for Regional Heritage Research reported by KLTV: “Ammunitions were stored within basement during Civil War and the first church bell was given to Confederacy and was replaced 1865 by one stolen from the Federal Army. The sanctuary was also a meeting place for the leaders of the south during the Civil War.”
The outlet noted that at least four ladder trucks and about 75 firefighters worked to put out the flames. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
City of Marshall Fire Marshal Scott Barmore said they were notified of the fire shortly after 1 a.m. Much of the church’s roof had collapsed by sunrise.
“Please keep this church congregation in your prayers,” church officials said. “God has amazing plans ahead.”
The Department of the Interior reported that a conference of governors, led by Confederate President Jefferson Davis, was held at the church in 1862.
The Marshall Fire Department is seeking the State Fire Marshal’s Office’s assistance in the investigation.
“The First Methodist Church in downtown Marshall has been destroyed after a fire broke out early this morning. Our prayers are with Pastor David Luckert and his congregation during this difficult time,” Texas State Senator Bryan Hughes (R) wrote on X.
