Precious Items Salvaged From Ashes Of Historic Whitby Church

From Toronto-

It’s been a terrible week for the parishioners at All Saints’ Anglican Church in Whitby after the historic structure went up in flames, but there’s some good news as precious items have been salvaged from the ashes of the blaze.

Flames broke out at the 143-year-old church, described by some locals as “the prettiest building" in Whitby, Monday, causing widespread damage. A reverend carried some important items out of the charred church Tuesday, and All Saints’ prized stained-glass windows, amazingly, are still intact.

The church has been declared structurally sound with most of it salvageable.

Nearly 100 Christmas hampers were destroyed in the blaze, but donations have been pouring in and parishioners who organize the holiday program to help the city’s neediest families say they’ve collected more than enough clothes, food, toys and other gifts to distribute.

Any extra donations will be given to other community groups.

Donations are still being accepted Wednesday at Whitby’s Henry Street High School.

The flames broke out around 5am and authorities are still trying to confirm arson as a cause. Firefighters reportedly discovered a broken window and gas cans scattered on the ground nearby when they arrived on scene.

Police are now searching for three suspicious people seen in the area before the fire started.

http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/65981--precious-items-salvaged-from-ashes-of-historic-whitby-church