A fire devastated a church in Scotland. Accident o arson? 

Photo: Archdiocese of Glasgow

Newsroom (07/28/2021 12:59 PM, Gaudium Press) Two days after the attempted assault on a Catholic priest, a fire breaks out in a Catholic church in Glasgow, Scotland.

According to a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Glasgow, the loss was a “severe blow” to the Polish community.

The Gothic-style St. Simon Church was built in 1858 for the Roman Catholic Community of Partick. During World War II, between 1940 and 1943, Polish soldiers attended mass in it every Sunday, and thus it became known as the Polish Church. To this day, many Poles who settled in Glasgow after the war continue to attend the church.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, and the Fire Department is investigating the scene.

Tweeter Comments

Tweeter repercussions have been extensive. A user commented: “What a devastating few days for Catholics in Scotland! First a cowardly attack on a priest in his place of worship, and now this. I know St. Simon had a special place in the hearts of the Polish community.” Another stated: “Solidarity with our Catholic community in Scotland.”
Pam Duncan-Glancy of the Scottish Parliament added: “Devastating scenes. Thank you to the firefighters who worked tirelessly to bring the fire under control. I will contact the church directly, but if you have been affected and need help, please contact us.”

A Police spokesman reported that, “At around 2:50AM on Wednesday 28 July 2021, police and emergency services were called to tackle a fire at St Simon’s Catholic Church in Partick Bridge Street, Partick, Glasgow. The church was badly damaged. Several residents of the residences near the fire had to be evacuated. There were no reports of injuries.”

Compiled by Gustavo Kralj