Cornerstone Baptist Church is in Cherry Log, just south of the Fannin County line.
It was a log structure. The original part of it was built about 15 years ago and an addition just a few years ago.
Pastor Paul Mims, who has been at the church 13 years, says the church has about 150 members.
A state fire invesigator, Brian Smith, said it looks like there were several lightning strikes. One, possibly the first, struck a big oak tree on the south side of the church parking lot, splintering limbs all over the parking lot. He thinks the second strike was at the utility line near the road and possibly went into the church through the line and caused the fire.
Smith said there might have been two other strikes but he is not sure which one caused the fire but it was was definitely started by lightning.
Ten fire units responded, two from Fannin County and eight from Gilmer.
Firefighter Eric Bradburn, who was off-duty at the time, said he got the call about about 10:15 and arrived about 15 minutes later to find the church was 50-60 percent engulfed in flames.
Pastor Mims said the congregation will meet this Sunday at Cherry Log Christian Church, then worship with the members of that church afterward.
Fannin County EMS Director Lonnie Oliver, whose units responded to a "mutual aid" request from Gilmer County, said "It's a total loss. It was pretty much involved when they got there."
(Editor's note: The information and the pictures for this story were provided by Elaine Owen, editor, Fannin Sentinel.)
The fire was still smoldering at 10:00 Thursday morning.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/6/239682