MOUNT AIRY — Sunday Mass was celebrated on the lawn outside Holy Angels Church in Mount Airy Aug. 23 after a suspected arson damaged the parish's worship space.
Mount Airy fire and police are investigating a suspicious fire that damaged the entrance of the parish's Duncan Center, located at 1208 N. Main St., in the early morning hours of Aug. 22. No injuries were reported.
"The evidence points to an intentionally set fire at the front doors of the fellowship hall," said Mount Airy Fire Chief Zane Poindexter.
The fire was set around 3 a.m. at the entrance to the parish hall, which is now used for most Masses. The blaze damaged the overhang and ruined the doors. Gasoline was poured on the front doors and set on fire, said Father Lawrence Heiney, pastor of Holy Angels Church.
"At 10 (minutes) to 4 a.m., I was awoken to the sound of fire trucks," Father Heiney told the Catholic News Herald. "It wasn't particularly startling because I live next to the fire department, but they didn't seem to be going far. By the time I got outside, the flames were out."
The entrance way, door and exterior canopy sustained most of the damage. The sanctuary area was not burned, but it did suffer smoke damage, Father Heiney said. The fire wall between the entrance and the main hall more than likely spared the rest of the building, he added.
The fire caused an estimated $20,000 in damage, Poindexter said.
No damage was reported to the smaller, nearly 100-year-old church located next to the Duncan Center.
The fire was certainly "inconvenient," Father Heiney said, but "it's not majorly traumatic – though it certainly disrupts our routine."
Masses could continue to be held outside or be moved to a neighboring church which has offered Holy Angels' parishioners use of their space while repairs are made, Father Heiney said.
"We can't use the building for services or activities until the smoke is removed and the door replaced," Father Heiney said.
Nothing else needs to be replaced, he said.
Diocese of Charlotte properties officials said the parish's insurer, Catholic Mutual Group, has been notified of the fire and is arranging for a restoration company to clean up the smoke damage.
Mount Airy Police and Fire departments, the State Bureau of Investigation and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms continue to investigate.
"I have no idea who would do this or why," Father Heiney said. "It could be a random person wanting to cause damage. We can't rule anything out."
Parishioners reacted "as expected" and some felt personally assaulted by the event because it's their place of worship, he said.
Holy Angels, one of the northernmost parishes in the diocese, is comprised of about 200 registered families.
— Kimberly Bender, Catholic News Herald. Damage photos provided by Mary Gilreath via Facebook. View more pictures on Holy Angels Facebook Page.
No damage was caused to the nearly 100 year old church.