A church that crumpled to ashes in a 1974 fire came back to life at dawn Sunday in San Antonio.
The happy congregation of Mt. Zion First Baptist entered it's new church home for the first time after over a year of waiting.
The Rev. Claude Black Jr. a city councilman and the church's pastor for 26 years, led over 800 of the religious into the sanctuary in a special ceremony.
Mt. Zion First Baptist burned down July 21, 1974 leaving behind a blackened shell and over $350,000 in damages.
The 1,200-strong congregation began $510,000 in rebuilding projects in February at the Hackberry Street and Martin Luther King Drive location.
They attended church in nearby Douglass School Auditorium while they waited for the new structure to be finished.
Charles Hudspeth, building committee chairman, accepted the keys to the church from Tuggles and Graves Architects and Donat Contractors during the ceremony.
The Rev. Mr. Black gave special credit to church members who helped in the project, keeping faith by making contributions and obtaining $27,000 in community donations.
Black said he hopes special facilities at the new church will be use to the community, in addition to being a house of worship.
An official dedication ceremony will be held later.