Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
PUSEY
GOOD NEWS once again emanated from the North Street United Church that is trying to literally rise from the ashes after being gutted by fire early last month. Although the good news was not the Gospel, it was still worth a few cheers of hip, hip hooray.
The rebuilding process will now cost the church a cool $15 million less than the estimated $65 million, because the church will not have to demolish the faithful walls of the structure that survived the massive blaze.
WALLS PROVED SOUND
Structural engineers gave the church, which is located at 28 North Street and runs adjacent to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), the go ahead after tests proved that the walls were still sound.
After the fire that began in the wee hours of the morning (February 6) reduced the 168-year-old historic landmark to charred wood and rubble, the walls of the Victorian-modelled building was left standing to tell the tragic tale.
Rev. Nigel Pusey, pastor of the church, told The Gleaner on Monday that a pressure test is pending to decipher the weight of the roof that can be placed atop the sturdy walls. "They are recommending we don't put back the same weight roof on it, (however) the walls are able to withstand construction," said Rev. Pusey.
The clean-up work began on Saturday and is now almost complete. However, the church is still making an impassioned plea for assistance in cash or kind to finance the rebirth of the historic building. "We are depending heavily on the generosity of Jamaica ... the common man on the street, as well as corporate Jamaica," pleaded Rev. Pusey.
Still things are looking up for the North Street-based church. Already they have received a donation of some pews from Savannah United Church, a sister church from Grand Cayman. The account that was set up shortly after the fire now stands at just over $65,000. Rev. Pusey said that, depending on the generosity of the public, his congregation could be back in the their sanctuary by December.
Donations:
Persons or organisations interested in donating cash to the church's cause can do so through the North Street United Restoration Fund at the National Commercial Bank, Cross Roads. The account number is 231-029-869.
