Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
Fire destroyed a 174-year-old church building in rural Coosa County Monday morning.
The historic Blue Springs Baptist Church, located on Coosa County Road 99 and built around 1850, burned to the ground, leaving nothing but the ash of over a century and a half of memories.
Monday morning, around 3 a.m., a call came in that the church building was fully involved.
Lay Lake Fire, Fayetteville Fire, Stewartville Fire and Marble Valley Volunteer Fire Department all responded, but it was much too late.
The church is in a rural part of central Alabama, near Marble Valley, Fayetteville, Sylacauga, Stewartville and the Pursell Farms Farmlinks golf facility.
Over its 174-year history, the church played a vital role in many lives. Dozens had come to know Christ. Dozens of baptisms have been performed. Dozens of weddings. Dozens of funeral services.
Now, there are no regular church services in the building, but special occasions are still held there, mostly by families who have been part of the church family since 1850.
No plans have been announced for restoring the church building. Since nothing is left to restore, it could only involve a brand-new building.
Photos of the church from YouTube: Blue Springs Baptist Church – Coosa County Alabama 1800’s #old #church #baptist #1800 #shorts (youtube.com)
Monday’s fire is the third time the church has been damaged since 2012. It was vandalized in 2012 and suffered a heavier vandalism attack in 2019.
The Alabama State Fire Marshall’s office asks that visits to the site be limited as their investigation is ongoing.
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