By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DAYTON, Ky. - Two months after an accidental fire destroyed much of this city's oldest church, the community has contributed more than $40,000 for the rebuilding effort.

Donations range from $5 to a $20,000 anonymous gift. The average contribution is about $100, said Allan Daigle, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dayton.

For the past month, church members have worshiped in the attached gymnasium and basement classrooms, which had only smoke and water damage. The church's youth group meets at the pastor's home, and Sunday school classes recently resumed in the church basement.

"We're still holding Sunday morning services in the gym, and we're in one of the smaller classrooms for the Sunday evening service," Daigle said. "I'm anticipating being back in the sanctuary sometime toward the end of the year. I'm shooting for Christmas.''

By the end of the month, Klenco Construction, the company hired by the church's insurance adjuster, should know what it would cost to rebuild the burned-out sanctuary, Daigle said.

"What we're trying to determine is basically how much repair needs to be done and if it's actually feasible to repair versus start over,'' Daigle said.

Fire officials determined that workers repairing the roof of the 109-year-old church started the Jan. 16 blaze that caused $500,000 damage. Since then, dozens of messages of support have poured in from people in 25 states who had heard of the church's plight through the media, Daigle said.

Church officials have put dozens of offers of volunteer labor on hold until they learn whether they can renovate what's left of the historic landmark or will have to rebuild.

This Saturday,church members hope to attract at least 1,000 people to a fund-raiser by local Elvis performer Steve Chuke. The Dayton native and owner of Jewel King Jewelers in Newport is donating his performance to benefit the church's rebuilding effort.

"He's doing an Elvis show,'' said church member Randy Pollitt, who's promoting the benefit. "It's not church music. He does Wayne Newton and Little Richard, too.''

The church will have a bake sale before the Elvis show, and the Dayton High School boosters will sell snacks and candy, said Pollitt, 44. The church also will run a silent auction with donated door prizes ranging from Cincinnati Reds tickets to restaurant certificates.

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com