GRANTVILLE, Pa.—A central Pennsylvania church has opened its doors again more than a year after a devastating arson fire tore through its sanctuary.

Shells Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grantville, Dauphin County held its first service at its renovated building on Sunday.

The church had been destroyed in April 2011. A Coxsackie, N.Y. man pleaded guilty to setting the fire in March.

Firefighters and other first-responders who helped preserve the building's exterior took part in the special service.