
DATE: Saturday, October 25, 1997            TAG: 9710250386

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ERIKA REIF, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS                      LENGTH:   53 lines

FIRE CRUMBLES SANCTUARY ROOF OF CHURCH IN NEWPORT NEWS

A fire caused major damage to a historic black church building in Newport News early Friday, caving in the roof of its former sanctuary. No one was injured, and fire officials do not suspect that the blaze at Zion Baptist Church was arson.

Firefighters responded to a 3 a.m. call and battled flames until about 8 a.m., Newport News Fire Marshal R.L. Ware Jr. said.

``It's pretty extensive damage,'' Ware said of the building, used since 1985 as an auditorium for concerts and meetings. ``I don't know that they're going to be able to make repairs to it.''

Ware would not estimate the damage.

The department notified the FBI, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Tidewater Regional Arson Panel, which is standard in cases of church fires, Ware said.

The cause of the fire will not be known until cranes can be brought in to lift the collapsed roof and first floor, special agent Michael Moore of the Norfolk ATF office said.

``There is nothing to support that it was arson,'' Moore said.

Pastor L.T. Daye, 65, stood before the stone facade of the M.L. King Memorial Auditorium Friday, long after the fire was doused.

There had been ``a lot of sentiment in that building,'' said Daye, an Isle of Wight resident who has led the congregation of about 650 for 31 years.

Worship services and activities are held next door in a newer sanctuary and educational center, which was slightly damaged by smoke and water.

The old sanctuary, with its horseshoe-shaped balcony, was used for performances.

Co-pastor L.T. Daye Jr., the pastor's son, described the sanctuary built in 1914 as ``a historical landmark for the southeast community.''

It was on the site where 13 original members gathered under a cherry tree and started the church 101 years ago, he said.

Daye said he would miss the colorful, stained-glass windows most of all. Only a few remain, etched with the names of members who donated them half a century ago. ILLUSTRATION: BETH BERGMAN photos/The Virginian-Pilot

Above, Lt. Tony Giannini of the Newport News Fire Department wipes

his eyes after exiting the Zion Baptist Church on 20th St. in

Newport News Friday morning. The church, left, was severely damaged

by fire. Firefighters fought the blaze for about five hours. An

agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said there

was nothing to support the theory that arson was the cause of the

fire. Said co-pastor L.T. Daye Jr., who joined the church at the age

of 5, ``I was baptized there, preached initial services there, was

ordained there, grew up there, (and) played drums there.'' KEYWORDS: CHURCH FIRE