Church roof collapses in Wilton

Published 1:42 pm Friday, September 12, 2014

A blue tarp covers the roof and red warning tape marks the area surrounding Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, where the roof collapsed on Sunday, Sept. 7. (Reporter Photo/Ginny Cooper McCarley)

A blue tarp covers the roof and red warning tape marks the area surrounding Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, where the roof collapsed on Sunday, Sept. 7. (Reporter Photo/Ginny Cooper McCarley)

By GINNY COOPER MCCARLEY / Staff Writer

WILTON—Parishioners of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Wilton will be attending services in another location after the roof caved in on their church building on Sunday, Sept. 7.

“The roof caved in,” Pastor Albert Jones Sr. said. “A wind had come through, then rain, and it just gave out.”

Associate Minister Vivian Bolden said there was no warning that the roof was not in good condition.

“There were no indications or pre-warnings that the church’s roof would cave in just at dusk towards the close of the day,” Bolden said.

The roof caved in on Sunday night, Jones said, and no one was in the building at the time. Insurance agents are currently investigating the situation to determine what happened to the building.

“Everybody was surprised,” Jones said, noting he was alerted to the situation after a local citizen called him to tell him about the roof.

Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church is currently holding services at the Good Shepherd Funeral Home in Montevallo on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 9:30 a.m.

“We’re just trying to wait and see what happens,” Jones said.

For Bolden, the unique purpose of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church will continue despite the roof incident.

“We at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church welcome all to our house of worship. We believe in exalting the savior, equipping the saints and evangelizing the world,” Bolden said.

As for future plans, Jones said the congregation is waiting for more information until holding a fundraiser.

“The Lord has already has (the future) planned,” Bolden said.