Building plans for St. Paul’s by-the-Sea

Members of St. Paul’s by-the-Sea are still picking up the pieces from the blaze that burned down a portion of their church and killed two people in 2013. Just last week, the church’s bestry, or their governing body, approved entering into contract to rebuild.

The rectory suffered the most damage and that portion of the building has since been demolished. Future plans include creating a new enclosure where the old rectory used to be. The Church Hall also suffered damage and new sprinkler systems have been installed for future fire emergency services. Another portion of the church that suffered damage, and where the fire started, the Shepherd’s Crook food pantry. Money and food has since been donated.

On Thursday morning the demolition and reconstruction team, or DART, met with Rebecca Morgan an architecture firm in Salisbury to discuss new plans. The funding has not yet been determined, but Tom Shuster, chairman of the church finance committee says the church is currently using money the church has saved along with insurance money collected from the fire and fundraisers that have been held.

Church officials have plans to meet and review preliminary plans on September 18th.

This rebuild comes after a fire back in November of 2013, where John Sterner, 56, reportedly doused himself in gasoline, lit himself on fire, and walked into the Shepherd’s Crook food pantry. Sterner and the church’s pastor, Reverend David Dingwall, both died in the flames. Dana Truitt, who was volunteering at the time, survived, but suffered serious third-degree burns.