The Rev. Canon Andrea McMillin of the Diocese of Northern California provides an update on churches affected by the Camp Fire:
We continue to reel from the impact of the fire in Paradise and the surrounding areas. So many of our family, friends, and loved ones have been displaced. More and more stories are emerging, and the scope of the devastation is truly impossible to imagine, as we start to understand what it means to have a whole town destroyed at one time.
… We have established the core disaster relief team that is “boots on the ground” at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Chico, 12 miles east of Paradise. We will update the diocese as we understand more of the needs and how we can best respond as the disaster moves from first responder to recovery stage. Our response team is doing a great job building on their existing connections and networks, as the wider community of Chico pulls together. The Episcopal Church is a part of this response, thanks to the ongoing work of the clergy and laity at St. John’s over the years.
We have firsthand confirmation that St. Nicholas’ church buildings are standing and the property is intact, as is the Lutheran church across the street. While we know the church is more than a building, we are profoundly grateful that we can offer ministry through the use of our building when the time comes to return. This may be months away, however, given the apparent total loss of the infrastructure in Paradise.
In addition to your prayers, at this time monetary donations are the most helpful. Bishop Barry sent a $12,000 check to St. John’s, Chico, for immediate distribution in the form of gift cards for clothing, gas, food, and other basic needs.
… To donate to disaster relief, click here now.
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350 University Avenue, Suite 280
Sacramento, CA 95825
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.