The winter storm that lingered over Texas last week left its mark on at least 16 churches and buildings in the diocese, where broken pipes left behind a watery path of destruction ranging from mild to severe.

Damaged buildings include: Christ Church in Dallas, both campuses of Incarnation, San Francisco de Asis, Canterbury House, St. Luke’s in Dallas, St. Matthew’s Cathedral, Saint Michael and All Angels, Transfiguration, St. Anne’s in Desoto, St. Nicholas in Flower Mound, St. Philip’s in Frisco, Holy Trinity by the Lake in Heath, St. Peter’s in McKinney, Holy Nativity in Plano and St. Paul in Waxahachie.

Transfiguration took a hard hit after a pipe that was part of the emergency sprinkler system burst and flooded the nave and also bringing about two inches of water to every corner of the church. The pipe burst set off emergency alarms which went undetected in the empty parish on Ash Wednesday, when snow covered roads made travel hazardous. Because the pipe was part of the emergency sprinkler system the alarms sounded triggering the fire department who called the church office but no one was there. 

“Thankfully, our story is filled with grace. Just when we were reaching a critical moment, when the damage might have become irreparable, we caught a break,” the Rev. Casey Shobe said.  “A neighbor, John Selzer, happened to walk by the church, and he heard the alarm. Rather than assume that the situation was already being handled, he decided to make a quick call to his down-the-street neighbors who he knew to be members of the church.”

Transfiguration has begun the work of restoration, contacted insurance and started inspections. “It’s proof of what we fundamentally believe: the worst thing is never the last thing. Storms do not have the last say,” Shobe said.  “With God’s help, manifested in the love of one another, we will overcome this and every challenge.”

The small basement underneath the sacristy flooded with about six feet of water at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. The Junior Warden was on site helping with the temporary overnight sheltering of the homeless when the fire alarm went off which allowed the warden to quickly shut off the water to the campus. The church lost an air handler in that room and now there is also an electrical problem with the organ. “Given all that has happened, we feel blessed,” the Very Rev. Rob Price said.

At Holy Nativity, Santa Natividad and Grace Community, which all share a building in Plano, a pipe burst in the sacristy causing water to flood the nave. Within 30 minutes of discovering the flooding volunteers from all three churches came to assist with clean up. “They came straight from work or left their job to come and help. From three backgrounds and cultures, they came together and took care of fixing and drying the nave,” the Rev. Samira Page said. “All was taken care of within two hours. I ordered pizza, we prayed and we had dinner together afterwards. In a difficult situation, we were the church and in fact, we had church. It was beautiful.”

The rectory was damaged at Christ Church by a busted pipe which caused minor damage due to the quick intervention of the wardens. The church is in the process of restoring the property to further support the ministry of the church. “Our prayers continue for those families who lost loved ones or were affected by this storm in a very direct manner,” the Rev. Fabian Villalobos said. “Many of our members from the Christ Church community like other Dallas County residents suffered in one way or another, most mishaps were especially associated with their home utilities. The poor internet reception or the non-existent internet connection played culprit to the interruption of our regular routine and most importantly our Zoom daily prayers, Morning Prayer in English and Evening Prayer in Spanish.  While many prayed at home privately, prayers were offered by conference call in an effort to maintain regularity of praying together.”

The storm also brought greater need from the community and some ministries were given grant money from Episcopal Relief and Development to help reach refugee and underserved communities with food, bottled water and gift cards for utility bills.

St. Nicholas Church in Flower Mound never lost power, however the pipes in the office building burst causing water to pour out into the street, the Rev. Mark Wright said. Two other pipes burst in the Garrett building and plumbers are now in the process of making repairs. 'We are blessed with such little damage. We were blessed to have had heat for the week," Wright said. 

As the floors are mopped, the drywall replaced and new pipes installed the greater diocesan family offers prayers and support. “I have heard two refrains repeated by those who experienced damage to their buildings,” Price said. “From many, deep gratitude that through God's grace just the right person was present at just the right time to prevent even greater damage to their church.  And even from those whose losses can be deemed catastrophic, appreciation for a diocesan family that is with them in this crisis as a resource, advocate, and support. As parishes and as a diocese, we are indeed "bearing one another's burdens."