WESTPHALIA, Texas — The Church of the Visitation in Westphalia, a
nearly 125-year-old wooden church with bell towers on each side, burned to the
ground July 29.
The fire, which began in the morning, is still under
investigation. Parishioners ran into the burning church to save what they
could, including its tabernacle.
"We got some stuff out, but it wasn't near enough,"
parishioner Marvin Meyer told the Waco Tribune Herald daily newspaper. "We
just saw the smoke, and everyone came. Everyone just tried to do what you could
to save what you could, but it went so fast. In like 15 minutes, it was
over."
The church, which is in the Austin Diocese, serves 244 families.
"I am saddened for the people of Westphalia who have
suffered this tremendous loss," said Austin Bishop Joe S. Vasquez in a
July 29 statement. "I am grateful for all the firefighters and departments
that responded to the fire. Please join me in keeping the people of this
historic parish in your prayers today as they try to piece together this
tragedy."
The bishop, who spoke to reporters near the grounds of the
charred parish church July 30, noted that the community is "broken
hearted" about this loss. He said the church was "truly one of our
treasured churches" because of its history, tradition and the love and the
faith of the people, which has not diminished and will grow stronger "out
of these ashes."
He said the parish community will continue to come together and
pray and support one another. He also noted that the parishioners had been busy
making plans to celebrate the parish's 125th anniversary next year.
The bishop said he was grateful for those who risked their lives
to save the tabernacle and thankful for the work of many volunteer
firefighters.
He said parishioners will hopefully be able to worship nearby and
when asked if the parish would rebuild, he said he thought they would because
the church "means so much" to the parishioners.
The church was designed in the shape of a Latin cross with a bell
tower on each side. It contained more than 20 stained-glass windows.
Construction was completed in February 1895 and most of the carpentry was done
by parishioners. The church was dedicated three months later.
In 1978, the church received official recognition with a Texas
Historical Marker. And in 1996, the community was recognized as a Rural
Historic District, which encompasses 5,500 acres of farmland, the church and
many other historic sites in the area. The district is now listed in the
National Register of Historic Places.
Jerry Loden, a volunteer firefighter and parishioner at the
Church of the Visitation, told the Waco Tribune Herald that wind fueled the
fire that quickly spread through the wooden structure.
"I got married here. I go here every week. This is
home," Loden said. Noting the parish's upcoming anniversary, he said:
"Over those years, there have been thousands and thousands of people who
have come through those doors."