A nearly 150-year-old downtown Indianapolis church burned down in the early hours of Christmas Eve.
Shortly after 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, first responders began receiving reports of flames at the former First Lutheran Church, near the intersection of North Pennsylvania Street and East Walnut Street. As firefighters battled the blaze, AES Indiana had to deactivate power to the area, leaving approximately 170 customers without power for a few hours.
Firefighters were not able to save the structure, which in recent years had operated as the Sanctuary on Penn, a venue for weddings and other events.
First Lutheran Church: What to know about the historic building destroyed in Christmas Eve fire
Much of the building’s roof caved in during the fire. The church’s front doors lay in pieces, succumbing to the flames and the pressure of the water. Almost every glass window, which depicted the story of Christ, was gone.
Indianapolis Fire Department fight flames that have destroyed a large portion on the historic Indianapolis church, the Sanctuary on Penn, early Christmas Eve. The church is located at, 701 North Pennsylvania Street, in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024.
The Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services requested the church’s demolition Tuesday morning.
By 10 a.m. the Indianapolis Fire Department determined that the building was safe for workers to demolish.
As workers began preparing the site for a speedy demolition, people began gathering across the street of what was left of the church.
The Indianapolis Fire Department works Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024, to extinguish a fire at the Sanctuary on Penn, a historic Indianapolis church.
Some could be seen praying, giving the holy structure one last offering before its days as one of Indianapolis’ oldest Lutheran churches no longer existed.
Others just stood outside. Marveling at a moment in history.
“It hurts to see it go. That’s history right there” said Jose Ramos as he watched the building being torn down. “It hurts me when they do that.”
At about 11 a.m., workers started demolishing the old church.
The Indianapolis Fire Department works Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024, to extinguish a fire at the Sanctuary on Penn, a historic Indianapolis church.
And what felt like every five minutes, a main piece of the church was ripped off its foundation.
First, it was the entrance to the church. Then the walls of the parish hall came down.
Finally, the wall that had the last remaining barely visible image of Christ was demolished. Much of the debris fell onto Walnut Street. Bricks that were most likely 184 years old were removed from the foundation of the church, ending its almost two centuries-long mission.
The building hadn’t operated as a church in several years, instead being utilized as a wedding venue for many in Indiana.
Steven Mannweiler, a maintenance man for the venue, stood and watched as the church disappeared from North Pennsylvania Street’s skyline.
The moment of the morning felt surreal for Mannweiler. Just the night before, he had finished decorating much of the venue, ensuring that it was set up for a wedding that was scheduled for Saturday.
Just a few hours later, it was all gone.
What caused the fire at Sanctuary on Penn?
The Indianapolis Fire Department confirmed that no one was injured in the fire. Firefighters believe the building was unoccupied when it started.
Fire officials are investigating what may have caused the fire.
Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@indystar.com
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Sanctuary on Penn, former First Lutheran Church, destroyed in fire
