Congregation holds outdoor service after Buckingham Presbyterian Church destroyed by fire

The Buckingham Presbyterian Church in Buckingham was destroyed by a fire late Friday night, but dozens of members gathered outdoors with lawn chairs and furniture for Sunday service. "They're all saddened. But they know we're a strong congregation and that this is just a building we're the heart, the people are the heart, and we're going to move forward and wait for God's answers for the next steps," said Vicki McWhorter, clerk of session for the church. McWhorter, who has been with the church since its founding, shared its history. "We were founded in the early 80s, and then this building broke ground in '84. We began meeting at the Buckingham Community Center and have been a part of this growing rural preserve since then," she said. She also reflected on the personal memories she has made at the church. "I raised my children here. My children were married by our pastor here. We've renewed our vows with this congregation. My grandchildren have been baptized here," McWhorter said. The fire caused extensive damage, leaving nothing salvageable, McWhorter said. "They're just in the process of eliminating and trying to find where the actual fire started, but it melted everything from the sanctuary, all the way down to the very last classroom. Rubbers melted in the nursery on the floors. Everything's melted. It's gone. There's nothing left," she said. The Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosion Investigations is leading the investigation into the cause of the fire. No updates have been provided yet. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV