Grandview Apostolic Church
Encyclopedia
Grandview Apostolic Church was a historic church building in Brown County
, Indiana
, United States
. Built in 1892 along Grandview Ridge Road near the community of New Bellsville, it lay in far eastern Van Buren Township
. The church was a frame
structure with a facade that featured a steeple
, while the interior consisted of only a single room.
A part of the denomination
known as the Apostolic Church, Grandview Apostolic was the second oldest existing church building in Brown County. It closed during the twentieth century, but a congregation
was restarted there in the early 1990s, and the building remained in active use by that congregation until 2010. In 1991, the church building and two related structures, plus the cemetery
, were added to the National Register of Historic Places
because of their place in local history and because of their well-preserved historic architecture. Such a distinction is unusual; both cemeteries and religious properties must pass higher hurdles than most other types of properties in order to qualify for inclusion on the National Register.
Before dawn on July 14, 2010, a neighbor called firefighters to report that the church was burning, prompting a response from firefighters from the Hamblen Township
, Fruitdale
, Nashville
, and Van Buren Township volunteer fire department
s. Little more than half an hour after the initial emergency call, the fire was under control, but the church had already been destroyed; the only thing saved was the pastor's Bible. Determined to continue as a congregation, the church's forty-five members later decided to take the name of "New Beginnings Church" and to begin worshipping elsewhere.
Within two weeks of the church's destruction, seven teenage residents of Columbus, Indiana
were arrested and charged with arson
. One of the seven admitted setting the fire; according to him, the group committed the act as the result of a days-long planning process. Claiming that the group burned the church while under the influence of LSD, he stated that they had believed Grandview Apostolic Church to be a community of Satan worshippers
.
On September 29, 2010, the National Park Service
withdrew the church's historic site
status.
Brown County, Indiana
Brown County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population is 15,242. The county seat is Nashville.- History :...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Built in 1892 along Grandview Ridge Road near the community of New Bellsville, it lay in far eastern Van Buren Township
Van Buren Township, Brown County, Indiana
Van Buren Township is one of four townships in Brown County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,782. The township includes the southern portion of Brown County State Park.-History:...
. The church was a frame
Framing (construction)
Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
structure with a facade that featured a steeple
Steeple (architecture)
A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure...
, while the interior consisted of only a single room.
A part of the denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
known as the Apostolic Church, Grandview Apostolic was the second oldest existing church building in Brown County. It closed during the twentieth century, but a congregation
Local church
A local church is a Christian congregation of members and clergy.Local church may also refer to:* Local churches , a Christian group based on the teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, and associated with the Living Stream Ministry publishing house.* Parish church, a local church united with...
was restarted there in the early 1990s, and the building remained in active use by that congregation until 2010. In 1991, the church building and two related structures, plus the cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
, were added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
because of their place in local history and because of their well-preserved historic architecture. Such a distinction is unusual; both cemeteries and religious properties must pass higher hurdles than most other types of properties in order to qualify for inclusion on the National Register.
Before dawn on July 14, 2010, a neighbor called firefighters to report that the church was burning, prompting a response from firefighters from the Hamblen Township
Hamblen Township, Brown County, Indiana
Hamblen Township is one of four townships in Brown County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,591.-Geography:Hamblen Township covers an area of ; of this is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Gatesville* Spearsville...
, Fruitdale
Fruitdale, Indiana
Fruitdale is an unincorporated town in Jackson Township, Brown County, Indiana. Its primary source of employment is the Fruitdale Market Gas Station. Since 2007 the Lake Lasalle Naval Regatta has been held in June, wherein residents of Fruitdale construct boats along a general theme and are...
, Nashville
Nashville, Indiana
Nashville is a town in Washington Township, Brown County, Indiana, United States. The population was 803 at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat of Brown County and is the county's only incorporated town...
, and Van Buren Township volunteer fire department
Volunteer fire department
See also the Firefighter article and its respective sections regarding VFDs in other countries.A volunteer fire department is a fire department composed of volunteers who perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction.The first organized force of...
s. Little more than half an hour after the initial emergency call, the fire was under control, but the church had already been destroyed; the only thing saved was the pastor's Bible. Determined to continue as a congregation, the church's forty-five members later decided to take the name of "New Beginnings Church" and to begin worshipping elsewhere.
Within two weeks of the church's destruction, seven teenage residents of Columbus, Indiana
Columbus, Indiana
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Bartholomew County, Indiana, United States. The population was 44,061 at the 2010 census, and the current mayor is Fred Armstrong. Located approximately 40 miles south of Indianapolis, on the east fork of the White River, it is the state's 20th largest...
were arrested and charged with arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
. One of the seven admitted setting the fire; according to him, the group committed the act as the result of a days-long planning process. Claiming that the group burned the church while under the influence of LSD, he stated that they had believed Grandview Apostolic Church to be a community of Satan worshippers
Theistic Satanism
Theistic Satanism, sometimes referred to as Traditional Satanism, Spiritual Satanism or Devil Worship, is a form of Satanism with the primary belief that Satan is an actual deity or force to revere or worship. Other characteristics of Theistic Satanism may include a belief in magic, which is...
.
On September 29, 2010, the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
withdrew the church's historic site
Historic site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
status.