(photo credit: Gary Raynaldo   ©Diplomatic Times)    A fire began about 4:44 a.m.  Saturday Dec. 05, 2020 in a building next to the Middle Collegiate Church on Second Ave.  in the East Village section of New York City and quickly spread to the 128-year old church.  Several hours later, firefighters were still spraying water on the buildings extinguishing smoldering debris inside.

By Gary  Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC TIMES

NEW  YORK  –  A six-alarm fire lit up the early Saturday morning sky in the East Village destroying a 128-year-old Reformed church. Nearly 200 firefighters battled the  fire in an unsuccessful attempt to save the Middle Collegiate Church located 112 Second Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets.  According to FDNY officials,  there were reports of a fire at an empty, nearby building at 48 East 7th Street, that began just before 5 a.m. The fire soon spread to the church, triggering more alarms. The massive fire ultimately  went to six alarms. There were no  reports of  injuries and the FDNY was still investigating the cause of the  fire.  However, at least  four firefighters suffered minor injuries. The  church is a “multicultural, multi-ethnic, inter-generational movement of Spirit and justice, powered by Revolutionary Love, with room for all,” according to its website.  The fire also impacted the surrounding community, resulting in the displacement of about 25 vulnerable women living in a women’s shelter on Second Avenue who were trying  to get their lives back together after serving time in prison.  The Hopper Home building, operated by the Women’s Prison Association (WPA), had to be evacuated because of the danger from the  massive fire. WPA is the nation’s first organization for women impacted by incarceration.  WPA officials said “safe and appropriate sleeping arrangements” for all the shelter  residents have been made.  

We are thankful for the outpouring of concern and support we received today.

Safe and appropriate sleeping arrangements for all of our residents have been made. We have not regained access to the building to determine the full extent of the damage.

— Women's Prison Association (WPA) (@WPA_NYC) December 5, 2020

FDNY Assistant Chief John Hodgens provides an update from the scene of this morning’s 6-alarm fire at 48 East 7th Street in Manhattan. Read more: https://t.co/Pd7XgtfwlD. Photos shown here were taken earlier in the operation. (Photo Credit: FDNY Response Videos) pic.twitter.com/M5smab1nmi

— FDNY (@FDNY) December 5, 2020

“We are devastated. We are gutted like our building is gutted; our hearts are crushed like our doors are crushed,” said the Rev. Jacqueline J. Lewis, Senior Minister of Middle Collegiate Church. 

“But we know how to be the church, and we know that God is God, yesterday, today and tomorrow.”

We are devastated and crushed that our beloved physical sanctuary at Middle Collegiate Church has burned.

And yet no fire can stop Revolutionary Love. pic.twitter.com/R8D3NVjAiY

— Rev. Jacqui Lewis, PhD (@RevJacquiLewis) December 5, 2020

(photo credit: Gary Raynaldo   ©Diplomatic Times)    A six-alarm  fire  Saturday Dec. 05, 2020 gutted the 19th Century Middle Collegiate Church on Second Ave.  in the East Village section of New York City. Firefighters extinguishing the fire in the historic church. The devastating  fire left only its massive stone facade intact.

DIPLOMATIC TIMES   VIDEO  /  A six-alarm  fire  Saturday Dec. 05, 2020 gutted the 19th Century Middle Collegiate Church on Second Ave.  in the East Village section of New York City.

(photo credit: Gary Raynaldo   ©Diplomatic Times)    New York City Firefighters on  the scene of six-alarm  fire  Saturday Dec. 05, 2020 that  gutted the 19th Century Middle Collegiate Church on Second Ave.  in the East Village.

(photo credit:  Gary Raynaldo   ©Diplomatic Times)    New York City Firefighters on  the scene of six-alarm  fire  Saturday Dec. 05, 2020 with two hook and ladder vehicles spraying water extinguishing   burning debris in fires that  gutted a building at 7th Avenue and  the adjacent 19th Century Middle Collegiate Church  in the East Village.

(photo credit:  Gary Raynaldo   ©Diplomatic Times)    New York City Firefighters on  the scene of six-alarm  fire  Saturday Dec. 05, 2020 that  gutted the 19th Century Middle Collegiate Church on Second Ave.  in the East Village.

(photo credit:  Gary Raynaldo   ©Diplomatic Times)    New York City Firefighters on  the scene spraying water into empty building at 48 East 7th Street where fire  began just before 5 a.m., and soon spread to the adjacent church.

(photo credit:  Gary Raynaldo   ©Diplomatic Times)    New York City firefighter walks near empty building at 48 East 7th Street where fire  began just before 5 a.m., and soon spread to the adjacent church.

(photo credit: Gary Raynaldo   ©Diplomatic Times)    New York City Firefighters on  the scene of six-alarm  fire  Saturday Dec. 05, 2020 that  gutted the 19th Century Middle Collegiate Church on Second Ave.  in the East Village.