Following the Sanctuary on Penn fire, couples were left without a place to get married

Indianapolis, Indiana – After a horrific fire devastated the historic church-turned-event venue, bricks erected 150 years ago at the intersection of Pennsylvania and Walnut Streets were demolished on Christmas Eve.

The Sanctuary on Penn, a gothic revival landmark constructed in 1875, has served as the setting for innumerable memorable moments in recent years, bringing together the old and the new.
Michael Singer, the prospective groom, stated, “We chose it because it’s a beautiful building.” “We fell in love with it, and it’s really pretty inside.”

On October 18, 2025, Michael Singer and Elaine Anderson, his fiancée, were scheduled to tie the knot there. They are currently rushing to locate a different location.

“My fiancé is an intensive care unit nurse who works nights at St. Vincent Hospital. She was quite upset when she got home this morning at around eight, Singer added. “Are you serious?” I asked her. Our wedding is less than a year away, and it’s Christmas Eve.

Additionally, Singer is worried about the $11,000 they have already spent on booking it.

“I feel horrible, horrible. Not just because we are being married here, but also for other people who are getting married here, and because this is a historic site,” he continued.

According to fire officials, workers arrived at the scene at 5:42 a.m., and the roof collapsed approximately 30 minutes later. Nothing could be done to rescue the building by the time the last of the flames were put out. Around midday, the demolition got underway.

Tim Schneider, who has attended a number of events at The Sanctuary, stated, “It will impact a wide range of the community because it was a lot of different kinds of events.”

According to photographer Mariah Handlon, “I actually got into photography because of this venue and became their recommended photographer soon after.”

There could never be a substitute for it for people like Mariah Handlon, who has been employed at The Sanctuary for more than seven years.

The lighting and stained glass were unlike anything else. “The interior color scheme was really distinctive,” Handlon remarked. “It will be really difficult to not be here nearly every weekend.”

“We will update folks after the holidays,” the proprietors stated in a brief statement that was shared on social media. We mourn for the time being. I hope everyone is doing well.

“I just consider the brides who devote a great deal of their time and energy to organizing their wedding. Missy Patton, an aspiring bride who was thinking about using The Sanctuary as a venue, stated, “So this is devastating.”

It’s Tuesday, Christmas Eve, right here. We are aware that a wedding is most likely scheduled for this Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. “We simply cannot fathom the struggles those people are facing,” said Justin Rainwater, Patton’s fiancé.

The Indianapolis Incident Department reports that while firefighters battled the incident, which is still being investigated, about 170 residents in the area experienced a brief loss of electricity.