Historic Dallas church to rebuild after summer fire

Ben Lovvorn, executive pastor at First Baptist Dallas, on Sunday outlined the church’s plan to reconstruct its sanctuary. A four-alarm fire in July destroyed the church’s 134-year-old chapel but did not damage the rest of the campus. The church is launching one of its largest fundraising efforts ever to raise $95 million for the new sanctuary and other ministries, Lovvorn said. Construction is set to begin in January, according to CBS News.

What is included in the new plans? The church plans to preserve the exterior walls of the sanctuary as a way to honor the congregation’s history, Lovvorn said. Meanwhile, the new designs include a larger steeple, a redesigned pulpit, and restored stained glass windows. The changes are aimed at creating a more welcoming, modern facility that will also include a multi-purpose venue beneath the sanctuary.

Dig deeper: Read my initial report in The Sift about the fire.