Downtown churches standing strong decade after blast

By Carla Hinton

Published: April 20, 2005

As people flock to downtown Oklahoma City during observances of the 10th anniversary of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing, the churches damaged in the blast now stand tall and proud.

Whether they frame the Oklahoma City National Memorial, as do St. Joseph Old Cathedral and First United Methodist, or sit a few blocks away such as St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, the churches are symbols of faith and hope, of literally picking up the pieces and starting afresh.

After all, that's what ministry does best -- renew, restore and heal, said several officials of the six churches.

"We had debated for a while moving out to the suburbs like everybody else. But the bombing made us all the more resolved to stay where we are and continue our witness at Fourth and Robinson," said the Rev. Stan Cosby, senior pastor of First United Methodist, 131 NW 4.

That resolve came at a price. The congregation was displaced for three years because the church building was severely damaged. Nevertheless, church members decided not only to rebuild but to move forward into a new and improved future.

Cosby said about $10 million was spent in the church's extensive renovation efforts that included building a new sanctuary and an educational building and refurbishing the older sanctuary.

These efforts proved true the slogan on a banner erected at the Methodist church shortly after the bombing: "Our God Reigns. We Will Remain." The congregation "stood on that," Cosby said.

Other downtown churches damaged by the bombing were Calvary Baptist Church (now Covenant Life Family Worship Center), 300 N Walnut; First Baptist Church, 1201 N Robinson; St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, 127 NW 7; Citychurch, 136 NW 10; and St. Joseph Old Cathedral, 307 NW 4.

The Rev. George Back at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral said many aspects of the refurbished cathedral tie in with the bombing recovery and healing. The church erected a Memorial Gateway, with an iron gate that includes a circle for each person killed in the bombing. Pieces from the cathedral's stone cross damaged during the 1995 blast were included in the gateway, he said.

"When you rebuild, you have to integrate what's happened to you in the healing and go on from there," Back said.

He said the church spent about $7.5 million on repairs and adjustments to its historic building, which opened in 1904.

At Citychurch, associate pastor John Jewell said there may have been some question in years past as to what damage could be attributed to the bombing, compared to the normal aging of a building more than 100 years old.

"Up until a couple of years ago, we'd have a leak in the ceiling every now and then, and we would say, 'Wonder if that's a bombing leak?'" he said. But all repairs, about $1 million worth, are now complete, he said.

The Rev. Bruce Natsuhara said he believes St. Joseph Old Cathedral was "one of the very lucky ones" in terms of structural damage. The priest's rectory was destroyed, but the historic Catholic cathedral survived well, he said. About $3.5 million was spent on church restoration, Natsuhara said.

He said the church continues to draw people from throughout the metro area who come downtown for Mass, particularly on weekends. And the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City's bombing memorial, the "Jesus Wept" statue on the cathedral's grounds, is a popular downtown attraction.

Jay Allen, associate pastor at First Baptist, said the ministry spent about $500,000 on repairs. The renovation of the church building was simply part of the recovery process, he said. The other part was the healing and restoration of a traumatized community.

"It was a pretty traumatic thing for all of us, but we're a pretty resilient people," Allen said.

"All of these things seemed to bring better reflection on what's really important in life. As a church, we've tried to continue to help our community in any way we can."

Carla Hinton: 475-3480, chinton@oklahoman.com