150-Year-Old LI Church Destroyed In Fire: 'Catastrophic Damage'

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A Central Islip community is grieving the loss of a historic church, after a multi-alarm fire destroyed the building on Sunday.

Episcopal Church of the Messiah, located at 53 Carleton Ave, was consumed by a fire at about 3:30 a.m., the Islip Fire Department said.

The flames broke out in the interior of the 150-year-old church, and the building sustained "catastrophic damage from fire, heat, and water", the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island said on social media.

Denise Fillion director of communication for the diocese, told Patch that while it's unclear how long repairs will take, they will find a temporary place for the congregation to worship.

"It's devastating, it's painful," said Fillion. "It's hard to see a beloved building be destroyed by fire like that."

Central Islip Fire Department, in assistance with Islip Fire Department, diminished the fire within two hours.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and will take fire investigators several days to assess, the diocese said.

The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, Bishop of Long Island, arrived on the scene later that day with Stuart Newby, Diocesan Director of Facilities, who immediately contacted the Church Insurance Company and made arrangements for the church building to be secured, the post said.

The bishop then gathered with the congregation on the lawn for prayer, reminding them that "they are the church, the building can be replaced."

The diocese also asked the public to keep the church parishioner in their prayers.

"We are grateful to the Central Islip Fire Department for their quick response and actions attempting to save the church building," the post said.

Patch reached out to Central Islip Fire Department for more information.