Article By Frank Bergman
A historic Catholic church in Buffalo, New York, that was recently sold to an Islamic community and is slated to become a mosque, has been devastated by yet another fire after it was targeted by arsonists.
The former St. Ann’s Catholic Church was struck by a second fire in less than a week after investigators determined the latest blaze was intentionally set.
Authorities confirmed Wednesday that Tuesday’s fire at the 140-year-old church was the result of arson, adding to growing concerns after a string of suspicious fires involving Christian houses of worship across New York.
St. Ann’s was built in 1886 and served Buffalo’s Catholic community for well over a century before permanently closing in August 2024.
The property was later sold to an Islamic community for $250,000, with plans to convert the historic church into a mosque.
Second Blaze Ruled Arson
The Buffalo Fire Department responded to reports of another fire at the former church around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.
According to officials, firefighters located the blaze and extinguished it before it spread throughout the building.
Investigators later determined the fire had been deliberately set.
Officials have not disclosed exactly where inside the church the fire began or the full extent of the damage.
The incident came just days after firefighters battled a three-alarm fire at the same property.
Earlier this year, a separate four-alarm fire devastated the neighboring former St. Ann’s Roman Catholic School, destroying much of the building’s interior while leaving portions of the exterior standing.
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String of Church Fires Raises Questions
The Buffalo fire follows a series of devastating fires at historic Christian churches across New York.
In June, the 172-year-old South Bushwick Reformed Church in Brooklyn was reduced to rubble after a massive fire destroyed its iconic steeple before the building collapsed.
Built in 1853, the historic church suffered catastrophic damage.
Authorities have reviewed surveillance footage showing an individual leaving the area shortly before the fire began, and investigators have not ruled out arson.
Days later, police arrested a 36-year-old man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at two churches in Queens and another nearby building.
According to investigators, the suspect allegedly targeted Iglesia Bautista El Mesias Church in Ozone Park and a nearby Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses before being taken into custody.
Earlier this year, another historic church was destroyed when a five-alarm fire consumed a 138-year-old house of worship in Astoria.
That fire also remains under investigation.
Growing Calls for Answers
The succession of church fires has fueled growing concern among many observers who question whether Christian houses of worship are being deliberately targeted.
The latest arson attack at St. Ann’s is likely to intensify those concerns as investigators work to identify those responsible.
The incidents have also prompted criticism of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, with social media users questioning why he has not publicly addressed the destruction and attacks involving multiple Christian churches.
One widely circulated post asked why the mayor had remained silent throughout the series of incidents.
Another simply remarked, “I wonder why.”
While investigators continue examining each fire individually, the repeated attacks on historic churches across New York are raising fresh questions about whether the incidents are connected and whether enough is being done to protect vulnerable religious sites.
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