05/15/2026
Dear Members & Friends of UUCSW, I'm writing to share an important update about our building and our plans for Sunday worship.
On Thursday evening, I was notified by our renters that when they arrived, they discovered the chapel ceiling had collapsed. Since then, I have been in continued communication with the Board of Trustees and staff. I am deeply grateful that Vince Aquilino and Bruce Hall were available to go to the church last night to assess the situation and secure the area.
We are profoundly grateful that no one was in the room at the time and that no injuries occurred.
At this point, we do not yet know the cause of the collapse. Out of an abundance of caution, we believe it is important that the affected areas and the building more broadly be professionally inspected for both structural safety and air quality before people return to the space. The collapse created significant dust and debris throughout portions of the building, and we want to ensure that everyone can make informed choices about their health and safety moving forward.
Please know:The affected areas have been closed off.Insurance and professional inspections are being coordinated.Your Board of Trustees are already working on the immediate needs and longer-term repair plans.At this time, there is no indication of damage in the downstairs classrooms, though further professional evaluation is still needed.If you have keys to the church building, we ask only those authorized by the board of trustees enter at this time.
While this is serious and understandably upsetting, it is important to remember that one part of our building experienced a sudden failure, not that the entire church is unsafe or “falling apart.” Right now, the responsible thing is to pause, assess carefully, and move forward thoughtfully with expert guidance.
Because we do not yet have the information needed to safely welcome people into the building, worship this Sunday will be fully online for everyone via Zoom. This allows us to stay connected as a community while giving space for inspections and next steps to unfold responsibly.
In many ways, this is exactly what church community is for: caring for one another, adapting together, and responding with calm and compassion when unexpected things happen.
Additional updates will be shared as we learn more.
With gratitude that everyone is safe,
Rev. Misty-Dawn Shelly & the UUCSW Board of Trustees
