“It Is Our Intention to Rebuild”: Fire Destroys a Mandeville Church, With Losses Put at $10 Million

• Fire destroyed Central Power Point Church of God on Wint Road, Mandeville
• Bishop Glenton Johnson estimated the loss at about $10 million
• The church had been at the location for more than 13 years
• A neighbour said he could not reach the fire brigade by phone at first

A late-afternoon fire on Thursday, July 25, 2024 destroyed Central Power Point Church of God on Wint Road in Mandeville, Manchester. The church’s leader told the Jamaica Observer the loss was about $10 million.

“I know that it is a great loss of about $10 million and it was like about five different sections in the church. In this time and season, it is quite a lot that we have lost. It will impact our members, because of the effort and all their commitment being put into this building over the years,” said Bishop Glenton Johnson.

The congregation had worshipped there for more than 13 years. “We have been here over 13 years and things were running very well, but I realise that this is going to slow us down quite a bit, but it is our intention to rebuild. We are not going to allow this to stop us,” Johnson said.

Bunny Neil, proprietor of Neil’s Auto next door, said the blaze started at about 5pm. “The church behind us caught fire close to 5 o’ clock. One of my workers rushed to me and said the church was on fire. I had to rush and move some vehicles [that were] close to the church,” he said. Getting help was difficult at first. “I tried to call the fire brigade, but I got no answer then I called the police, who got in touch with the fire brigade,” Neil said. Inspector Simon McCormack of the Mandeville police helped coordinate the response.

The Observer did not report whether the building was insured, and the cause of the fire was not given.

Johnson’s comments point to something about how many Jamaican churches are built: over years, from members’ effort and giving, in stages that become five sections of one building. That makes a church valuable to its members, but it rarely produces an up-to-date valuation or an insurance policy that reflects its real replacement cost. For congregations in Mandeville and elsewhere, the practical steps are simple: have the building valued, check whether the policy has kept pace with extensions, and keep records of what has been spent. Members and supporters abroad who have helped build a church over many years have good reason to ask that it be properly insured.

Follow Jamaica Homes on Youtube @jamaicahomes and Instagram @jamaica_homes and on Facebook @jamaicahomesnews Send us a message or email us at onlinefeedback@jamaica-homes.com or editor@jamaica-homes.com