A 140-year-old church in Buffalo, New York, was destroyed by arson, raising concerns over anti-Christian attacks and the vulnerability of historic sites.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The former St. Ann’s Church in Buffalo, New York, was destroyed after two fires broke out within a week, with officials confirming the latest fire was an act of arson. The 140-year-old church, which had been sold in 2022 for conversion into a mosque and Islamic community center, had previously suffered a schoolhouse fire in January that caused $600,000 in damages. 📺 DETAIL: St. Ann’s Parish was closed in 2013 and officially deconsecrated in 2017, later being sold to Buffalo Crescent Holdings, a group linked to a Muslim organization, for $250,000. Plans for a multimillion-dollar redevelopment project, including an Islamic school, mosque, and shopping plaza, have stalled, with no updates from the owners. Preservation advocates and local officials have criticized the property’s absentee owners for neglecting to secure the historic site, which had been repeatedly targeted by fires this year. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “Preservation Buffalo Niagara calls on the City of Buffalo to pull out all the stops to wrestle this landmark church from its negligent absentee owner. Enough is enough!” – Bernice Radle, Preservation Buffalo Niagara Executive Director, calling for the city to take action against negligent property owners. 🎯 IMPACT: The destruction of St. Ann’s Church highlights ongoing concerns over the security and preservation of historic Christian buildings, particularly those left in a state of disrepair by absentee owners. The incident also raises questions about the city’s ability to enforce property maintenance and prevent arson at vulnerable sites. 📺 FLASHBACK: In recent months, other historic churches in New York have been targeted by arson, including a 173-year-old church in Brooklyn and a 138-year-old church in Astoria. |
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