Pews covered in ashen debris. Soaring arches charred black. Daylight pouring in where a roof once stood.
These are just a few of the signs of destruction depicted in photos obtained by NBC 4 New York from inside First Presbyterian Church hours after a intense blaze gutted the 146-year-old Victorian Gothic structure in Englewood, New Jersey.
"It was a punch to the gut," said church member Karen Neus, who got married at the church two decades ago.
The cause of the blaze, which appears to have started in the ceiling, is still under investigation, but authorities said there is no indication that it is suspicious. One former arson investigator told NBC 4 New York the pictures strongly suggest electrical wiring as the cause.
A 12-year-old girl whose grandfather lives across the street said she called 911 when she saw the flames at about 7 p.m.
The church was empty at the time of the blaze. Congregants gathered outside Tuesday night, watching as firefighters from several cities poured water on the inferno that enveloped the historic church.
"There was a feeling of sadness," said Neus' father, Dr. Linsy Farris, who watched the flames.
"It means so much to people," said the Rev. Richard Hong, the church's pastor. "I think about all the people who got married here, were baptized here."
The photos from inside the church show firefighters surveying the damage. Holes in the roof let in daylight throughout the structure and large wooden beams can be seen crashed atop rows of pews.
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The destruction didn't appear to be uniform. Some of the pews appear to be undamaged, and many Tiffany stained glass windows appear to be intact.
With Easter just days away, more than 450 congregants will likely have to find a new place of worship.
Hong said offers of temporary sanctuary have poured in from "synagogues, churches, civic organizations both in town and out of town."
"You sense that you're a part of years of history," said Neus, "but it's also the role it's played in the community."
The church was established in 1860, the first in Englewood and the first Presbyterian church in Bergen County, according to its website. Its current structure was built in 1870 and has been enlarged and remodeled over the years.
