Historic East Bay Church Gutted By Fire, Leaders Vow To Rebuild

OAKLAND, CA — Numerous videos showing heavy smoke and flames shooting from the roof of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest Black church in California’s East Bay area, were only a hint of what firefighters and congregation members would find after the devastating blaze was brought under control.

The three-alarm fire which was first reported at 10:45 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, completely destroyed the interior of the church, with the church pastor saying that the entire interior of the building had been "gutted."

But like all men of God, Rev. Dr. Rodney D. Smith says the historic church, dating back to 1858, will rise from the ashes.

"We don’t know why, we don’t know who, but it’s burning down," Smith said in a video shared on the congregation’s Facebook page. "But I promise you this, we will rise again."

No one was injured in the blaze which took 60 firefighters to contain.

According to the Online Archive of California, the First African Methodist Episcopal Church stood as the only African American church in Oakland for more than three decades.

It was also the first school for people of color at a time when only white children could attend public schools.

"First AME Church Oakland was educating Black people 20 years before we were able to get public education," Smith said in the video filmed at the scene of the fire as emergency lights flashed in the background. "The church feeds the community, serves the community in every way."

The congregation moved into the building at 3701 Telegraph Avenue in 1954 and since then, the church has been renovated and improved numerous times, notably surviving the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the Online Archive of California reported.

Smith said that the only part of the church still standing was the "outer walls."

"I’m completely devastated, completely at a loss for words," Smith said. "We need some prayers."

Members of the congregation gathered in prayer Monday morning at Brookins AME Church and community leaders, including U.S. Rep Barbara Lee called for the city of Oakland to "pray and rally support" for the First African Methodist Episcopal Church.

"This is devastating news," Lee wrote in a Twitter posting. "First AME Church of Oakland is a beacon of light in Oakland & has served our community for decades. I’ve known this church, pastors, & members of the congregation since my college days. We all must pray & rally support for this church family."

Church officials have launched a GoFundMe fundraising campaign to help with rebuilding the church, which has stood in Oakland since 1954.

As of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, roughly $10,150 had been contributed to the GoFundMe campaign which can be found here.

"The physical building is no more but God’s grace stands," Organizers of the GoFundMe campaign wrote. "As the oldest African American church in Oakland, our victory will always come from and through our resilience. Let us remain in collective prayer as a community and a body of believers.

"As a full assessment of the damage is completed, we are prepared to rebuild stronger and better than before," the group wrote, adding that the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

"We solicit your prayers and in advance, we are appreciative of every contribution made," FAME Oakland said.

Bay City News contributed to this report.