Marietta's Mt. Zion Baptist demolished

Metro Atlanta

Photos: The "church on the hill," Marietta's Mt. Zion Baptist on Macland Road, is demolished on Aug. 18, 2009.

Jo Martin (left) of Powder Springs gives Victoria McClung a hug before their church, Mt. Zion Baptist in Marietta, is destroyed by a wrecking company on Tuesday.

A backhoe moves in to knock down the sanctuary bell tower of Mt. Zion Baptist. The church steeple was removed before the demolition and sits at right. The church was established in 1843 but rebuilt in 1948.

Pastor Ted McClung (left) and his wife, Victoria, watch the demolition with church members. The church had become unsafe after part of the roof collapsed.

Workers from Mangum Construction Co. used two backhoes to demolish the sanctuary.

Tony Schuster of Marietta picks up some of the bricks from the sanctuary. Many will be saved and given to church members.

After part of the roof collapsed and the church became unsafe for services, the congregation moved services into the fellowship hall.

From left, Sherry Casey of Marietta, a church member her whole life; her mother, Sybil Casey, a member since 1954; Sarah Mitchell of Rockmart (Sybil's granddaughter), and Valerie Casey-Mitchell of Rockmart (Sarah's mom and Sybil's daughter), watch as the demolition begins.

Sybil Casey, Sherry Casey, Sarah Mitchell and Valerie Casey-Mitchell are affected by the demolition.

Pastor Ted McClung leads the congregation in a prayer service before the demolition begins.

Graeme Smith plays at the prayer service just before the demolition.

Shelia Manous and her husband, L.C. Manous, gather a few bricks from the sanctuary. The both grew up coming to Mt. Zion Baptist.

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Jo Martin (left) of Powder Springs gives Victoria McClung a hug before their church, Mt. Zion Baptist in Marietta, is destroyed by a wrecking company on Tuesday.

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