The fire that destroyed the historic church at Schwer in Iroquois County Monday is believed to have been an electrical problem, and most likely an issue with the church organ.

Officials looking over the ruins Tuesday said parishioners attending a funeral that morning heard a popping noise in the church's bell tower, but didn't think much about it until they were exiting the church and saw the flames. There were also reports of hearing a glitch and loss of power to the organ for a moment.

Plans are to rebuild St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, northwest of Milford. The church was first established in 1975.

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