Baltimore County Fire officials said Monday they’d brought under control a blaze that consumed the first and second floors of a historic Black church in Catonsville.

No injuries were reported in the fire at Mt. Gilboa African Methodist Episcopal Church, officials said.

At least seven fire trucks crowded the historic Oella neighborhood lined with stone buildings as firefighters battled the inferno Monday morning. Jay Patel, owner of Jay’s Country Corner Store at the corner of Westchester and Oella avenues, noticed smoke pouring out of the church’s windows and front door around 11:45 am. He called 911 and let members of the church know the building was on fire.

Patel said he saw crews performing electrical work on the historic church last week. Baltimore County Fire officials said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Representatives from Mt. Gilboa did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Built in 1859, the church describes itself as the ”oldest active African American congregation in Baltimore County.“ Renowned mathematician and astronomer Benjamin Banneker is said to have worshipped there.

In 1976, Mt. Gilboa was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Rev. Garland D. Owens has led the church since 2020.