<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0KzDsZ_0mm6Po3D00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0KzDsZ_0mm6Po3D00" width="1280" height="721" >SPENCER, Mass. - The community in Spencer is dealing with the loss of the historic First Congregational Church of Spencer, which was destroyed Friday in a six-alarm fire.The area is now fenced in with signs warning of asbestos and tarps cover what's left of the debris. Spencer Fire Chief Robert Parsons said a lightning strike started the fire which burned the church to the ground. The town is awaiting approval to remove the remnants and clear the site.Sunday's services were different for members of the church, who were welcomed by their neighbors at the Leicester First Congregational Church. Rev. Bruce MacLeod is the pastor at both churches and said it's still too early to tell what the future holds for Spencer's congregation."Yes, those buildings become invested with holiness just because that's where we encounter God,” MacLeod said. “Not the only place, but it is a significant place for that. And so,my word I think really is God is with us regardless of whether we have the building or not.“We really haven't begun to think much about what happens next. I think what I’m hearing is people saying we're not ready to roll over. We don't want to abandon our ministry in Spencer."The hope is to build a new church for the congregation. This would mirror what the church did in 1862 when the building burned down and was rebuilt the next year.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Future of Spencer church uncertain after devastating fire

SPENCER, Mass. - The community in Spencer is dealing with the loss of the historic First Congregational Church of Spencer, which was destroyed Friday in a six-alarm fire. The area is now fenced in with signs warning of asbestos and tarps cover what's left of the debris. Spencer Fire Chief Robert Parsons said a lightning strike started the fire which burned the church to the ground. The town is awaiting approval to remove the remnants and clear the site.