A rededication ceremony at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church over the weekend marked the completion of restoration work following a fire more than three years ago.
“We at Mount Olivet have been tested,” the Rev. Sara Keeling said at the service of thanksgiving. “We have come back better and stronger and more beautiful.”
Damage totaled several million dollars and forced the church to operate in cramped conditions until restoration work progressed enough for some damaged spaces to be reoccupied.
“We have treated every new challenge with grace and resiliency,” said Keeling, the church’s senior religious leader. She conducted the service with her pastoral colleagues the Rev. Jeff Goodman and the Rev. Stephanie Bekhor.
The two-alarm fire broke out at the church, located in the 1500 block of N. Glebe Road, around 3 a.m. on Oct. 14, 2022. Damage was significant, but “there was a miracle that day — no one was injured,” Goodman said.
Arlington firefighters contained the blaze to the church’s music and education wing. The sanctuary and preschool wings were spared, and there was no significant damage to the church’s historic cemetery.
Fire Chief David Povlitz and a contingent representing his department were among the guests at the ceremony on Saturday.
“The quick response … significantly reduced the amount of damage this building could have sustained,” said Monte Campbell, a church leader.
Also attending were three County Board members — Maureen Coffey, Julius “JD” Spain, Sr., and Chair Matt de Ferranti — and Sheriff Jose Quiroz.
Mount Olivet was founded in 1854, when two neighbors feuding over a piece of disputed land agreed to provide it for church use. Though the original building is gone, the church is Arlington’s oldest still in its original location.
“It’s a place where people worship, ask questions, grow in their faith and support one another,” said Jim Dake, a church leader.
Dake noted the church’s outreach around education, refugees, food security and housing. He said congregants are drawn together by “our love of God and our love of neighbors.”
Keeling lives next to the church and was awakened at 3 a.m. the morning of the fire by loud banging on the door to alert her to what was transpiring.
The episode could have torn the congregation apart, she said, but instead it drew members together.
“We are grateful — so grateful” for the support received during the restoration process, Keeling said.
