On Friday, in McIntosh County, sat a church. Today, in McIntosh County, sits the remains.
WTOC in Savannah reports that the Smallest Church in America, "where folks rub elbows with God," caught fire Saturday and is under investigation.
A Facebook post Saturday from WTOC's Don Logana:
SMALLEST CHURCH IN AMERICA BURNT DOWN? #WTOC is checking on this right now. Our crew spoke with the McIntosh County Fire Chief who told us they received a 911 call around 1am Saturday morning the church was on fire. When the McIntosh County Fire Dept arrived, the whole church was engulfed in flames. It took firefighters just a few minutes to get the fire out, but the church is a total loss! Fire chief says the fire is very suspicious and the State Fire Marshal has been sent in to investigate and will be here on Monday. A Lot of people from the community are gathered out here and are in shock. Several messages already this morning including this one: "What you are about to see are the remains of the Smallest Church In America. Its being said that someone performed this horrible act. We who live in McIntosh County would like your help in bringing light to this so that the culprit(s) can be brought to justice. Thanks"
The church was built in 1949 by Agnes Harper, a grocery store owner who wanted to feed the hearts and souls of the travelers that stopped at her store, according to my favorite coffee table book Weird Georgia, so she scraped her pennies together and built the Christ Church.
The book describes the little building as painted-white cinder blocks, 10 by 15 feet with two stained glass windows and a skylight in the roof. The book notes it's rumored to fit 12 disciples with Jesus at the pulpit.
"It's not the dimensions of the church that are important, it's the extent of faith," Harper reportedly said.
Prior to Harper's death, she willed the church to Jesus, fearing it would be demolished after her death, Weird Georgia said.
The church hosts weddings and celebrations but allows visitors at any time, unlocked and open all 24 hours of the day, welcoming anyone who stops by to leave their name and hometown in the guest book.
But not right now. Right now, the charred remains of the little church is taped off.
This isn't the first time a local landmark has gone up in flames. In 2004, the so-called Love Shack near Athens, yes, the one many think inspired the B-52's song, but the one they definitely wrote Rock Lobster in, was burned to the ground by an arsonist, the Athens Banner Herald reported.
Here's my two cents: I don't understand people that need to take something - something that doesn't even belong to them - from other people. I don't understand how someone could be harboring that much unhappiness in their heart that destroying something is the only way to relieve it.
I am the type of person the tries to find beauty in everything - including the tiny abandoned homes with rotting floorboards, overgrown grass and vinyl siding covered in the practice tags of teenage vandals. I try to see the good in people. But it just makes me so sad to see someone, thinking they can play God, and try to take something from the people around them.
But, mystery fire starter, if it really was an arson, you will not win this round. The community wants to - no, they will - rebuild the church.
Not everything will fit in to your tiny, perfect mold. Instead of burning it to the ground, maybe open your heart and love it - as is - instead.
'Tis the season.
