110-year-old Florida church is still standing after Hurricane Ian’s eye passed nearby

Jessica De Leon
·3 min read
2

Parts of the wood roof were stripped away by fierce winds.

A slab protruded through a front window, where just inside the lectern had been knocked over the altar.

A keyboard, guitar, mandolin, cello and set of drums still stood where they had been left, but a cymbal was tossed to the ground.

Hymnals were scattered in front of the pews they once laid on, and a cowboy hat rested on the ground.

A beloved place to gather and worship for more than 110 years in Myakka City after being erected in 1908, Sandy Baptist Church was still standing after Hurricane Ian made it’s way across Florida last week.

The tropical system brought up to 100 mph winds and 10 inches of rain to the area, officials said. The eye of the storm passed near the area as it moved northeast after making landfall near Fort Myers.

“It stood, but it took part of the roof,” said congregant Faye Mosley.

Erected in 1908, the Sandy Baptist Church in Myakka City withstood Hurricane Ian’s brutal winds, suffering some roof and window damage.
Erected in 1908, the Sandy Baptist Church in Myakka City withstood Hurricane Ian’s brutal winds, suffering some roof and window damage.

Mosley, 41, has been staying in the church’s hall for the past couple of months since she became homeless. She and a couple of friends rode of the storm together.

“I was fine. I was playing cards,” Mosley said. “The only time I was worried was when I looked out the window and seen this happen,” she said pointing at the now damaged house of worship.

“But the church is still here. At the end of the storm, you get battered and bruised but afterwards you’re still standing. The church is not the building, it’s the people.”

While the Southern Baptist Convention church itself was established in 1904, the church building was erected in 1908.

Erected in 1908, the Sandy Baptist Church in Myakka City withstood Hurricane Ian’s brutal winds, suffering some roof and window damage. A cowboy hat lies on the floor between the pews, blown from a peg in the back of the church.
Erected in 1908, the Sandy Baptist Church in Myakka City withstood Hurricane Ian’s brutal winds, suffering some roof and window damage. A cowboy hat lies on the floor between the pews, blown from a peg in the back of the church.

Although Hurricane Irma did cause some damage in 2017, the church has never sustained as much damage during a storm as it did with Ian last week, Pastor Mark Lee Albritton said.

“To lose a part of it was crushing and disappointing,” he said. “But as much as we love its historic aspect and picturesque authenticity, it refocuses us.”

Community outreach needed to be the priority, he told his congregation, even if it meant the rebuild of the church had to be put on the back burner.

But as focused on helping others devastated by Ian, members of the community showed up to take care of the church building.

The roof has since been tarped and new boards have already begun going up on the front of the church. Members also gathered to pickup debris and some brought heavy equipment to move the heavy, fallen brush.

Erected in 1908, the Sandy Baptist Church in Myakka City withstood Hurricane Ian’s brutal winds, suffering some roof and window damage. Faye Mosley stands on a porch built more recently, looking out at the downed trees around the property.
Erected in 1908, the Sandy Baptist Church in Myakka City withstood Hurricane Ian’s brutal winds, suffering some roof and window damage. Faye Mosley stands on a porch built more recently, looking out at the downed trees around the property.

“We are making progress and it is beautiful to watch,”Albritton said.

Albritton had shared photos and a hopeful message on Facebook after the storm initially had passed.

“As so many churches and families, we to must pick up the pieces, rebuild, and fix. It will be exciting to see how and who God uses to come along side of us through this process,” he posted last week. “Bold faith doesn’t shake in the midst of trials, bold faith puts one foot in front of the other trusting that it is God who brings salvation, strength, and favor.”

Erected in 1908, the Sandy Baptist Church in Myakka City withstood Hurricane Ian’s brutal winds, suffering some roof and window damage. A pole barn in the foreground used for functions like the popular Cowboys’ Day was also damaged.
Erected in 1908, the Sandy Baptist Church in Myakka City withstood Hurricane Ian’s brutal winds, suffering some roof and window damage. A pole barn in the foreground used for functions like the popular Cowboys’ Day was also damaged.
Erected in 1908, the Sandy Baptist Church in Myakka City withstood Hurricane Ian’s brutal winds, suffering some roof and window damage. Choir books were blown around, but the lace curtains still hung from the windows.
Erected in 1908, the Sandy Baptist Church in Myakka City withstood Hurricane Ian’s brutal winds, suffering some roof and window damage. Choir books were blown around, but the lace curtains still hung from the windows.