Partially completed church gutted by the fire

WAPPINGERS FALLS – As authorities continue to investigate Sunday’s tragic fire that destroyed the future home of the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Wappingers Falls, the community opened its doors to provide emotional support for the parishioners of the ill-fated facility.

As flames continued to envelope the structure, which was under construction to replace the existing 100-year-old facility, congregations of the other churches in the village opened their doors and hearts to those who lost their new building.

The village even came to their aid, said Mayor Matthew Alexander. “The trustees came out and we walked and brought out the chairs for the congregation and set up a chapel under the sky for them and allowed them to worship in our main park,” he said.

The faithful of Bethel Missionary still have their current church in which to worship and said the church did not burn, just the new building, and that, they said can be replaced.