CINCINNATI – The walls of a church fell about 90 minutes after the last of Sunday’s worshippers left, causing the roof to drop onto the pews and pulpit, officials said.
Pastor Carl McMullen and his family were the last to leave the Zion Hill Baptist Church at 1:40 p.m. Sunday and got the call about the collapse an hour and a half later. About 50 people had attended Sunday’s service.
“Lord, have mercy – can you believe it?” said the pastor’s wife, Debra McMullen. “It’s just a blessing that no one was inside.”
The church sometimes has afternoon services and lunch, but not on Sunday.
Fire District Chief Anson Turley said he did not see steel reinforcements within the building’s cinder blocks. Members who noticed some ceiling tiles had fallen said they talked about calling the city’s buildings and inspections department Monday.
“God must be telling us it’s time to move,” said Jerry Givens, a member for 30 years. “And that’s what we’ll do.”
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