COLUMBUS (WCMH) — A house explosion Friday morning on the near east side of Columbus did an estimated $500,000 in damage to nearby St. Dominic Church

“It’s like something you would see in the movies. You hear a woof and then a boom and everything shakes,” said Cecil Douglas, St. Dominic’s maintenance groundskeeper. 

Douglas was inside the church’s parish center preparing free breakfast for the children in the neighborhood when the explosion happened. 

“It shook and I checked the building and two my helpers, they ran they didn’t know what to do. All you could see was smoke,” said Douglas. 

Once the smoke settled, Douglas says he was afraid to see the damage done to the church. 

100-year-old stained glass hand-painted windows shattered. The scenes of the Ten Commandments and the physical history of the 130-year-old church destroyed.  

The rectory next door to the church windows also blown out. 

Repair crews have been out all day salvaging what is left. 

“It’s heart-breaking. It’s heart-breaking. This neighborhood has been through a lot,” said church member John Pannell. 

Pannell has been a member of St. Dominic since he was a little boy. He was raised in this church and raised his children in this church. 

He has helped rebuild this church, put a new roof on it, pouring his blood, sweat and tears into these buildings. Now his heart aches. 

“It’s one of the last pillars of the neighborhood really,” said Pannell. 

It’s a church that has supported the neighborhood, with free meals, clothing drives and Thanksgiving dinner. Now needs the support of the community. 

“One way or another we’ll still have mass. You know how God is, nothing is going to keep us away from here,” said Pannell. 

Mass has been moved to moved to the Community of Holy Rosary and St. John Church while repairs are being made.