Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
THE BOARD of the North Street United Church is making an urgent plea for financial assistance in its bid to 'rise from the ashes'.
Reverend Nigel Pusey, pastor of the Victorian-model church that was gutted by fire early Monday morning, said the building was not insured. The pastor revealed that, despite desperate attempts, insurance companies refused to take the risk of insuring the 168-year-old landmark.
"Most of who were contacted did not want to give us down here because we are in a volatile area," lamented Pastor Pusey.
The church is located at 28 North Street, which runs adjacent to the Kingston Public Hospital.
In the interim, the Jamaica Fire Brigade has cleared the Jamaica Public Service Company of culpability for the fire that destroyed the historic building.
ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT
"Definitely not an electrical short circuit. There was absolutely nothing to indicate that it was an electrical short circuit or a power surge," said District Officer F. Barchan.
The district officer has also ruled out arson as the reason for the blaze.
However, Pastor Pusey insisted that his church would not renege on its decision to launch an independent probe into the cause of the massive blaze.
Still, the clergy is staring down the barrel of a minimal $65 million rebuilding effort to restore the historic building.
After a meeting on Tuesday, the board of Elders decided to set up an account at the National Commercial Bank's branch in Cross Roads. The account was activated yesterday.
PHOTOCOPIER NEEDED
Cash aside, Pastor Pusey said his congregation would really appreciate a heavy-volume photocopier as the church still has to meet the needs of persons who have requested various documents. The affairs of the church are currently being conducted from its Roy Edwards Human Development Centre on the same property.
"We welcome any kind of donation, cash or kind. We really need a lot of things right now," he added.
Rev. Pusey said his church was really banking on the purses of the faithful and the generosity of the public because the synod is not in a position to fund the entire rebuilding process.
NORTH STREET UNITED CHURCH RESTORATION FUND'S ACCOUNT NUMBER: 231 029 869
