Songs of rejoice and prayer filled the air inside of the First Presbyterian Church of Englewood – the start of a new beginning after a 2016 fire severely damaged the building.

"It's just really lovely to see how even though something awful happened to this space, it gave us an opportunity to imagine it in way that makes it even more welcoming," said Parishioner Emily McSpadden.

A fire severely damaged the main sanctuary of the church just days before Easter in 2016. Pastor Rich Hong says despite delays in construction and the coronavirus pandemic, their faith is what kept the congregation and revival of the church a priority.

Their goal was to reopen a space that had better audio and visuals for prayer and performance – and was more inviting overall.

"The sight lines are better. Their used to be pillars that blocked the view. It's now a shorter distance from the stage to the seating so that there is a better connection with people," said Pastor Hong. "The fire gave us an opportunity to focus on what it meant to be a true community and so that's one of the things that happens with any kind of difficulty. It often helps you focus on what's truly important.”

The official formal dedication ceremony and service will be held on Sept. 29 at 3 p.m.