“As you see in Rolling Fork, there’s hardly a tree left standing,” said Father Greg Proctor, an Episcopal priest who leads the Chapel of the Cross Church. Chapel of the Cross was one year shy of celebrating 100 years in this red brick building, but now, more than half of the church has been obliterated.
“There was a bell tower that went three stories up there with a big cast iron or brass bell in the wreckage,” Proctor said. ”We hope they will save it.”
Just two days after the tornado touched down, nearly a dozen men sort through the wreckage, salvaging silver and panels of stained glass. Some are members of Proctor’s congregation, but some are from out of town — driving in from as far away as Arkansas.
“They just showed up with plywood and some hands,” Proctor said. “The commandment to love God and love your neighbor have been shown these last few days as people have come together to help.”
The congregation is small, but Proctor said many have shown up to help unprompted. They have questions, but they also want to be useful, for which he’s grateful.
William Moore, a lifelong member of Chapel of the Cross, is one of those volunteers. He’s been coming to this church for more than 60 years despite living a few miles south in Cary, Mississippi.
As he looked over the damage, he took a deep breath and struggled to keep talking.
“I’m devastated. It’s a small congregation and I’ve been the treasurer for 40 years. It’s my life,” he said. “It was probably the prettiest church in the county, and it’s gone.”
For now, Proctor said that they’re coming up with a plan to get Sunday services going again. The goal is to be up and running by next Sunday.
“We may not be in this building anymore. It’s hard to say for sure, but we will have a worship space and we will gather to praise God’s grace,” he said. “Even in the midst of chaos like this, God continues to be with us and strengthen us.”