Historic Woodlawn Church Begins Restoration Process After Massive Fire
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Six months after an extra-alarm fire gutted a historic Woodlawn neighborhood church, crews have begun taking the first steps toward restoring the 93-year-old building.
Cleanup started Tuesday morning at Shrine of Christ The King Sovereign Priest, 6401 S. Woodlawn Av., the first part of a multiphase project to rebuild the landmark church.
Piles of debris inside and the collapsed roof above showed just how much was lost to an extra-alarm fire last October. Flames destroyed most of the roof, the entire choir loft, and virtually all of the pews, statues, and altars inside.
"There's a lot of devastation here, and I can also see the faces of our people, and so my heart really hurts for them; but, at the same time, it's also a day of rejoicing for us," said Rev. Canon Matthew Talarico, the provincial superior of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.
The ornate limestone building, previously named St. Gelasius Church, received city landmark status in 2004. The church survived another fire 40 years ago, and was several years into a restoration project when the blaze destroyed virtually everything inside.
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Officials have said the fire was sparked by spontaneous combustion of improperly stored rags that had been used to apply floor stain to the choir loft floor.
In late February, the Archdiocese of Chicago donated the church buildings and property to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, which has run the shrine since 2004. For the past two months, the Institute has been working with a construction team on coming up with a plan to rebuild.
"It's not just a story of a building, it's a story really of our whole community coming together and doing something positive for the South Side of Chicago in times which are not easy for our city," Talarico said.
The church has raised $1 million in donations toward its goal of $2.5 million for the first phase of restoration.
In addition to cleanup, the first phase will include stabilizing the remaining structure, repairing masonry, and installing a new roof and thermal windows.
Future phases will include demolition of the damaged interior, repairing stairs and ramps, installing heating and air conditioning, new fire protection systems, electrical and plumbing repairs, lighting for the tower and façade, a new vaulted ceiling, and much more.
The cost to rebuild is estimated at $8.9 million, and could take years to complete.
Since the fire, parishioners have been worshipping at a nearby Presbyterian church.
