Historic Columbus church catches fire for 2nd time in 8 months. 1 person rescued
A historic Columbus church has caught fire for the second time in the past eight months.
Columbus Fire & EMS Deputy Chief Daniel Macon told the Ledger-Enquirer the fire department responded at 8:55 p.m. to a fire at the 24th Street Missionary Baptist Church.
Macon said one person was rescued from the fire and the victim’s status is unknown. Eight fire trucks and 22 personnel were involved in containing the blaze, according to Macon.
Macon said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
The church was organized in 1921, built in 1935 and moved to its current location in 1955 under the Rev. M. Morris, according to a cornerstone on the building.
The church previously caught fire in November 2024, the Ledger-Enquirer reported. That fire was believed to have originated from a trash can in close proximity to the church, former Columbus Fire & EMS Division Chief John Shull told the L-E then.
There were no injuries reported in the November fire.
24th Street Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Curtis Green Sr. took to the church’s Facebook page to talk about fire touching their church for the second time.
“For many of us, this brings back memories and grief. And it’s okay to feel those things. God can handle our questions, our hurt, and our doubts,” the post says.
However, Green said the church is not the building: “It’s you. It’s us. It’s the Spirit of God alive in our worship, our love, our perseverance.”
“The fire may have touched the structure, but it did not and cannot destroy the mission, the faith, or the unity we share,” the post says.
“We’ll lament, but we’ll also lift our eyes to the hills, from where our help comes. And as we do, we’ll be a living testimony—not of destruction, but of resurrection,” Green said.
This story was originally published July 3, 2025 at 11:27 AM.