Durham church, once led by uncle of Shirley Caesar, ‘heavily damaged’ by fire on Saturday

A Durham church with roots dating back nearly 100 years was heavily damaged by fire on Saturday.

Firefighters were called to the Greater Waltown United Holy Church in the 700 block of Belvin Avenue around 8:50 p.m. Saturday night, finding “heavy fire located in the rear of the church,” said a City of Durham Fire Department news release.

Durham and Lebanon Fire Departments responded with 52 firefighters, and it took about 30 minutes to get the fire under control, according to the department.

The church sustained “heavy fire, smoke and water damage,” said the release, but was unoccupied at the time of the fire. One firefighter was treated for heat-related symptoms and cleared by Durham County EMS, said Durham Fire Department.

The origin and cause of the fire is being investigated, but at this time, arson is not suspected, said Durham Fire Department division chief David Swain.

The church congregation, led by Elder Timothy Moore, held services Sunday morning in the church parking lot, reported News & Observer news gathering partner ABC11.

The church website says it considers itself a “refuge shelter and resource center” for those needing spiritual guidance.

Church history

The Greater Waltown United Holy Church has a storied history that dates back to the 1940s, when the building was located on the corner of Berkeley and Englewood streets, in the historically Black Durham neighborhood Walltown.

(Note: The church name on its website and Facebook page is spelled Waltown, but it’s listed as Walltown in Durham property records.)

According to a history on the church’s website, its pastor prior to 1946 was Cato Caesar, the uncle of Pastor Shirley Caesar, a world renowned gospel singer.

In the 1980s, the church, which had one bathroom and a choir stand that could only seat 15 people, relocated to Belvin Street. According to Durham property records, the church is about 6,000 square feet.