RICHMOND, Va. — A historic Black church that helped shape Richmond’s Church Hill neighborhood and played a pivotal role in the city’s civil rights movement is gone after a fire Sunday evening destroyed the former Good Shepherd Baptist Church building.
Sunday Richmond firefighters battled flames, heavy smoke, and lightning as the former Good Shepherd Baptist Church burned. Their quick response kept the fire from spreading to neighboring homes, but they couldn’t save one of Church Hill’s most treasured landmarks.
Lt. Carlos Samuels Sr., the incident commander for the Richmond Fire Department, said the decision was made early not to risk firefighters’ lives…