Fire Marshal, ATF Investigating Church Fire

Hatfield Vol. Fire Co. Chief Terry O'Donnell said the borough fire marshal and investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are still investigating the cause of the early Saturday morning fire that destroyed the older portion of Grace Lutheran Church.

O'Donnell said those parties will determine the cause of the fire.

O'Donnell would not say if arson was a factor in the fire.

The fire began shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday. The roof, interior and basement of the old church were destroyed.

Calls to and Grace Lutheran Church were unsuccessful.

Emails to church secretary Patti Kennedy, interim pastor Daryl Nelson and Stepping Stones Nursery School director Lori Bezanis were not returned as of 5 p.m. Monday.

In a year-end statement to its parishioners and the community, Grace Lutheran Church said that most of the building suffered serious fire, water and smoke damage with the roof caving in and the floor caving through to the lower level.

The church affected by the fire, referred to as the "education building," served as the primary location of worship for Grace Church from 1904 to 1989.

It most recently housed Stepping Stones Nursery School, educational programs and stage performances of the Laymen Playmen, a Christian theatrical group.

The new addition remained intact, and served as the location for Sunday worship on Jan. 1, 2012.

Read more about the initial fire