You are here: Home > News > St. David's announces extent of damage

	St. David's, Topeka, senior warden Margaret Telthorst and rector the Rev. Don Davidson examine a Hymnal damaged by the arson fire at the church Nov. 10. Officials have announced that the damage is so severe the church building cannot be saved. Photo by Melodie Woerman

St. David's church building declared a total loss
Parish hall, classrooms can be rebuilt

By Melodie Woerman
Diocesan director of communications

TOPEKA (Nov. 18) - Engineers have concluded that damage from the Nov. 10 arson fire at St. David’s, Topeka, was so severe that the building cannot be saved. The building was examined Nov. 15, and experts determined that its structural integrity had been compromised beyond repair, notably the supporting walls and ceiling beams, primarily due to extemely high temperatues.

The parish’s rector and wardens relayed this information to church members in a letter dated Nov. 17 in which they wrote, “This news is as painful for us to tell you as it must be for you to hear.”

The nave and sanctuary, along with the adjacent chapel and sacristy, are due to be demolished in the next 60-90 days. The stained glass windows in the church and chapel also were damaged beyond repair, as are the wooden pews in the nave.

The rest of the facility, including the offices, parish hall and classrooms, can be rebuilt.

Artwork in the church, including the 15-foot-tall Christus Rex that hangs behind the altar and the Stations of the Cross along the nave walls, will be removed as soon as possible, and experts then will decide what can be repaired. Contents of the sacristy have been removed and are awaiting a determination of their future use.

Phone lines now are operating in the house next door, creating an interim parish office, although Internet lines still remain to be installed. Once the computers are operating again, the parish will restart its e-mail newsletter to help keep members informed of developments. It also has established a telephone calling tree to aid communications.

Parishioners will worship this weekend at two locations. The Saturday 5 p.m. Eucharist will take place in St. Mary’s Chapel of Grace Cathedral. Sunday services, at the usual times of 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., will be at the Masonic Lodge at 30th and MacVicar. Breakfast and Sunday school classes will take place between the services.

Worship times and locations for future weeks will be announced soon.

To read the full text of the parish's letter, please click here.