Landmark Covelo Church Destroyed in ‘Suspicious’ Fire, According to Church Elder

the New Life Community Church (EPC Presbyterian) fire

A suspicious fire last burned a Covelo landmark to the ground. This shows what used to be the front entrance. [Photo provided by Dave Nixon]

The landmark New Life Community Church in downtown Covelo burned to the ground last night. It was founded in 1884.

According to Dave Nixon an Elder at the EPC Presbyterian Church, the blaze

…started shortly before 1:30 AM. The fire is suspicious and will be investigated. The local volunteer fire department and Cal-Fire controlled the fire and kept it from spreading to nearby homes. The local firefighters, only five, did a… fantastic job in containing the fire to just the Church. They used 20,000 gallons of water and no one was injured.

the New Life Community Church (EPC Presbyterian) Church

The New Life Community Church before the fire [Photo from the Church’s website.] 

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36 Comments
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Mogtx
Guest
6 years ago

Arson

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
6 years ago
Reply to  Mogtx

Well, it wasn’t MY son!

meh...
Guest
meh...
6 years ago

Totally different front steps. Concrete vs wood. Anyone?

Gasquet
Guest
Gasquet
6 years ago
Reply to  meh...

No doubt

Dave
Guest
6 years ago
Reply to  meh...

The front steps were just replaced a few weeks ago. They were brand new

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
6 years ago
Reply to  meh...

From looking at the before & after photos, it’s my belief ,the church itself was blocking the view of the shed!!!

tired of all this
Guest
tired of all this
6 years ago
Reply to  meh...

What is WRONG with you?

Jonah Andersen
Guest
Jonah Andersen
6 years ago
Reply to  meh...

That photo is taken from a different entrance. It’s not the front.

CB
Guest
CB
6 years ago
Reply to  meh...

I think those might be the steps to the social hall on the north side.

zdummy
Guest
zdummy
6 years ago
Reply to  meh...

Trees are different; sure looks like concrete steps to me…. Age of pix?

Leslie Cardone
Guest
Leslie Cardone
6 years ago
Reply to  meh...

I thought the front steps were concrete too. Could this be another entrance

Moose
Guest
Moose
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Cardone

Hi Leslie. My dad told me that they had just finished replacing those old crumbled concrete steps there, as Dave said above.

So sad. I went to school there in first and second grades, and was married in that church. It was also a pretty iconic Covelo building. I really hope it wasn’t arson.

hmm
Guest
hmm
6 years ago

It was part of Yahweh’s plan.

Guest
Guest
Guest
6 years ago
Reply to  hmm

It was probably the Liberal Inquisition. Or at least one of their acolytes.

hmm
Guest
hmm
6 years ago
Reply to  Guest

lol

Conservative Stupidity
Guest
Conservative Stupidity
6 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Probably some trashy right winger. Or at least one of their disciples! The destruction of the “wall of separation”, although peabrain Conservatives don’t say so, is a very obvious priority for the Republicans because this is a major issue for a significant part of their useful pawn idiot voter base.

Maxfusion
Guest
Maxfusion
6 years ago

You’ve done it, winner of the most inane, off topic comment of the day.
!!!Congratulations !!!!

Shel
Guest
Shel
6 years ago

Instead of spewing your hate, go lay down and take a load off!

G-MAS
Guest
G-MAS
6 years ago

Bad karma!! Was that a new photo,different stairs the concrete is gone.such a mean thing to do I’m so sorry.Bless all of you

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
6 years ago

Holy Smoke!!!??? Sorry I can’t resist!!!

Why? What's The Point?
Guest
Why? What's The Point?
6 years ago

We seem to have major problems with our people on this planet in the 21st century. What is causing this? Is it drugs, alcohol, or just lack of respect for anybody or anything ? We need to open our eyes to all the destruction that is currently going on around us and not make light of it. This was a place of worship for well over a 100 years. I would never condone this, no matter what your religious beliefs might be, or your race , creed, or color. This is a piece of history that is gone forever. I can find no humor in this, whatsoever. This is a sad day for Covelo!!!

Lundbar Hillbilly
Guest
Lundbar Hillbilly
6 years ago

It was probably one of those humanists.

Marie canavan
Guest
Marie canavan
6 years ago

I can’t imagine what your all going through. It was much more than a church. I just wanted to let you know that my heart is with you.

Crime stopper
Guest
Crime stopper
6 years ago

This is a HATE CRIME pure and simple. Who in Covelo had a grudge against an elder or the Church? Was a homeless piece of -hit turned away and this is his retaliation? Did the congregation have this church insured? Old building ,but was there a sprinkler system inside to perhaps have partially saved the structure? Are there newly transplanted Obama muslims in town? Or a statanist cult headquarters in Covelo?
I’m assuming fire/arson will investigate the cause. Please let all of us know. Thanks.

Marie canavan
Guest
Marie canavan
6 years ago
Reply to  Crime stopper

Blaming Muslims sounds like a ‘hate’ comment.

Just Sayin
Guest
Just Sayin
6 years ago

Natives been burning shit up their for about , ever.

Covelo or busted
Guest
Covelo or busted
6 years ago
Reply to  Just Sayin

My first suspect would be That scoundrel Ben Drinkin , Just seen em .The two
were headed To Indian Dick, travlin with that ghost of a fellah,John David Wathen… All rotten to the core.

Poppins
Guest
Poppins
6 years ago

It was a beautiful building. We lived for a couple of years in the parsonage next door. There was a lot of foot traffic behind the church and our home all ours of the day and night along the creek. Even had a few trucks using the Creek as a roadway. Folks would use the field next to us as a dumping ground.

Sad to see that the church was destroyed.

How can you explain what is going on?
Guest
How can you explain what is going on?
6 years ago

We are living in the time of the end. The fast-fulfilling signs of the times declare that the coming of Christ is near at hand. The days in which we live are solemn and important. The Spirit of God is gradually but surely being withdrawn from the earth. Plagues and judgments are already falling upon the despisers of the grace of God. The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state of society, the alarms of war, are portentous. They forecast approaching events of the greatest magnitude.

The agencies of evil are combining their forces and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.

The condition of things in the world shows that troublous times are right upon us. The daily papers are full of indications of a terrible conflict in the near future. Bold robberies are of frequent occurrence…

They forgot that in heaven an account of every business transaction is kept; every unjust deal, every fraudulent act, is there recorded. The time is coming when in their fraud and insolence men will reach a point that the Lord will not permit them to pass, and they will learn that there is a limit to the forbearance of Jehovah.

… I am instructed that when the Lord’s time comes, should no change have taken place in the hearts of proud, ambitious human beings, men will find that the hand that had been strong to save will be strong to destroy. No earthly power can stay the hand of God. No material can be used in the erection of buildings that will preserve them from destruction when God’s appointed time comes to send retribution on men for their disregard of His law and for their selfish ambition.

There are not many, even among educators and statesmen, who comprehend the causes that underlie the present state of society. Those who hold the reins of government are not able to solve the problem of moral corruption, poverty, pauperism, and increasing crime. They are struggling in vain to place business operations on a more secure basis. If men would give more heed to the teaching of God’s word, they would find a solution of the problems that perplex them.

The Scriptures describe the condition of the world just before Christ’s second coming. Of the men who by robbery and extortion are amassing great riches, it is written: “Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.” James 5:3-6.

But who reads the warnings given by the fast-fulfilling signs of the times? What impression is made upon worldlings? What change is seen in their attitude? No more than was seen in the attitude of the inhabitants of the Noachian world. Absorbed in worldly business and pleasure, the antediluvians “knew not until the Flood came, and took them all away.” Matthew 24:39. They had heaven-sent warnings, but they refused to listen. And today the world, utterly regardless of the warning voice of God, is hurrying on to eternal ruin.

Volume 9 of the Testimonies to the Church

https://www.stepstolife.org/lost-in-church/

shak
Guest
shak
6 years ago

It’s not the only church to burn down of late. The “swat” disguised bad guys also are not unique. When we pull our heads out of the local editorial hinies, a widespread pattern is exposed. Some are so gullible they even go so far as to gaslight the events as pranks.
I hope this particular event was just a careless idiotic moment in time, and not a “prank”.

Ronald Birchard
Guest
Ronald Birchard
6 years ago

Thank God for all the lives that were changed in that place of worship

R-DOG
Guest
R-DOG
6 years ago

Well I won’t be attending any more AA meetings in thar that’s to bad

Moose
Guest
Moose
6 years ago

It was “suspicious.” Let’s not jump to conclusions until the facts are in.

John Boyland
Guest
John Boyland
6 years ago

Sorry to see the news! The burn photo is unclear. But people saying that the steps were replaced explains why it doesn’t match the pre-burn photo. I lived next door for 3-7 years (last four years in college).

Alfred
Guest
Alfred
6 years ago

Am I correct. Is this the Church that left the dioceses and asked them to transfer the building and land to them? Which was refused ? Is this the same Church that left the dioceses because of the acceptance of gay marriage at their national convention? Somewhere I read where there are under 30 parishioners left in the congregation. If my memory is right, at one point there was 150-160. Seems like a lot of controversy for this little church, and so sad that the historical element of the building is now completely gone. Some people come into a church and have agendas and I think this was one of them.

Dave
Guest
6 years ago
Reply to  Alfred

Well you have part of it right, but, when the decision was made to leave the PCUSA there were about 30 members. The entire congregation voted, on a secret ballot, 100% to leave, which was each and every one. The new association is with the EPC or Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Also when they had 166 members, it was more than 40 years ago. By the way the land is transferred to the new congregation, unlike the PCUSA which retaineds the ownership.