East Coast quake closes historic Baltimore church

The
Archdiocese of Baltimore says a church damaged by the East Coast
earthquake is expected to be closed for weeks while damage to a steeple
is repaired.

Church officials say St. Patrick Catholic Church
in Fells Point has been deemed unsafe and the badly damaged steeple
will be deconstructed and stabilized, a process that could take several
weeks. 

The church will reopen when the work is completed.

The
archdiocese says the church houses the oldest Catholic parish in
Baltimore, founded in 1792.

Officials say shuttles are being provided
for parishioners to attend a church in the city's nearby
Highlandtown neighborhood.

Church officials say two other parishes reported minor damage, but St. Patrick's is the only Catholic church in the archdiocese that has been closed because of the quake.

Source