A fire on Wednesday, May 14, caused extensive damage at St. James the Greater, Hopewell. Capt. Benjamin Gomes, the Hopewell fire marshal, ruled the cause of the fire an accident.
Bishop Barry C. Knestout visited the parish May 15 and May 18. He shared this statement following the fire:
Late [Wednesday] night, I received word that a fire had occurred at St. James the Greater Church in Hopewell. Firefighters worked quickly to control the blaze and limit the damage. Fortunately, the building was unoccupied at the time and no one was harmed in the incident.
I am grateful to the firefighters and other first responders from Hopewell, Chesterfield and Colonial Heights for their swift response in controlling the fire.
My prayers are with the pastor, his staff, and the parishioners of St. James the Greater during this difficult time. In the days and weeks ahead, the diocese will do all it can to support the parish community in rebuilding, while maintaining an uninterrupted worship experience for the faithful.