Photo via Episcopal Diocese of Texas Facebook.
A fire early Wednesday at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in East Dallas caused “extensive” damage to the interior, but the building is structurally sound.
The public information officer for Dallas Fire-Rescue said right before 3 a.m. Wednesday, firefighters responded to a 911 call for a fire at the campus. They were able to put out the fire within an hour after arriving. One firefighter was taken to the hospital after “suffering an undisclosed injury,” and the cause is undetermined.
Rob Price, the dean of the cathedral, said the fire affected Garrett Hall, and seven trucks eventually were on scene. Smoke damaged the foyer of the hall, but fire doors prevented smoke from damaging the central part of the sanctuary and kept the fire contained to Garrett Hall.
“As painful and sad as the aftermath of the fire was for me to see, there is much to be thankful for,” Price said in a Facebook post.
Services will go on as planned this Sunday, Price said.
St. Matthew’s Cathedral is located at 5100 Ross Ave. It sold about 4 acres of its campus along Garrett and Henderson Avenues to Trammell Crow Residential in September 2021. The developer is constructing an apartment development, Alexan Cathedral Arts.
“We are reminded ever more forcefully that the church is a people, not a place, and that when we are faithful to each other in love and service, especially in times of suffering and grief, we reflect the faithfulness of God in Jesus Messiah to the world,” Price said.
