Historic Catholic Church in West Virginia Burned to the Ground in Suspected Arson

A Catholic Church in Raleigh County, West Virginia, burned to the ground over the weekend and authorities are now investigating the incident as arson.

The Beaver Volunteer Fire Department said in a news release that units were notified on June 26 about a structural fire at the Saint Colman Catholic Church on Irish Mountain Road in Shady Spring.

“Upon arrival, we found the structure was already burned to the ground and smoldering,” officials said. “At this time the fire is considered suspicious in nature and is being investigated as arson.”

No further details about potential suspects or the cause of the blaze were released.

Authorities are asking anyone who could have information regarding the fire to contact West Virginia State Police at (304) 256-6700, the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Arson Hotline at 1 (800) 233-3473, or Raleigh County Crime Stoppers at 304-255-STOP.

Saint Colman Catholic Church, which was built in 1878, has not held services since it was officially declared a historic site in 1984, FOX News reported. The building was also known as the “Little Catholic Church on Irish Mountain.”

A major fire at St. Colman Catholic Church in West Virginia is being investigated as arson. (Courtesy of Beaver Volunteer Fire Department)

The latest suspected arson attack happened as a string of Catholic Churches across the United States and Canada have faced a series of vandalism and arson attacks in recent years.

At least 142 incidents involving the targeting of Catholic sites have occurred across 36 states and Washington D.C. since May 2020, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

According to the organization, the incidents include arson, destroying and defacing of statues, and defacing of gravestones along with burned American flags left next to them, among other forms of destruction and vandalism.

The fire also comes as Catholic Churches

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