There were attempts to start fires," Pastor Joye Jones said. And that this is one of the manifestations of the deep divisions right now within our country. Lauren Hamilton is an Associate Producer at WTOP and a graduate of the University of Maryland. She enjoys covering the intersection of arts, culture and social justice in local communities. I believe that this is because of the churchs stand on the issue of life when it begins and that it should be protected and that this is one of the manifestations of the deep divisions right now within our country, Rev. On Sunday, at approximately 2 a.m., authorities responded to St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church in the 9600 bock of Old Georgetown Road for the report of a fire. Three Bethesda churches were vandalized and two of the churches were set on fire over the weekend, according to authorities. They overturned statues. There have been no reported injuries from the blaze. Samuel Giese from St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church said during Sunday mass. I believe that this is because of the churchs stand on the issue of life: when it begins, and that it should be protected. Within hours, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service had launched an arson investigation into the fire. website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Samuel Giese shared news of the vandalism. Authorities are investigating arson and vandalism of three churches in Bethesda, Maryland, that occurred over the weekend. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. The preliminary on scene investigation of both events determined that the suspect(s) forced entry into the church and vandalized various areas, a Montgomery County Police spokesperson said. In a statement, the spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington said: "The St. Jane parish is gathering today, as always, in worship and celebration, and we will pray especially for those who felt compelled to act out in a way that so disrespects our faith and our family.". IMPORTANT UPDATE - Church Arson(s) @MontgomeryCoMD @mcfrs Media Hotline 240.777.2442 RE (130a 7/9) fire at North Bethesda Methodist Church, 10100 Old Georgetown Rd AND this morn (2a 7/10) fire at 9601 Old Georgetown Rd, St Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church https://t.co/ULxDl5c1Cs pic.twitter.com/epi1O1GWq4, It seems like, I dont know, a reflection of our times that we live in, a St. Jane's parishioner said. Addressing the congregation and those watching the masss livestream, Rev. Authorities continue to investigate the three incidents and have not released a motive or suspect information. This is an ongoing investigation, and the police are looking for more information.The Montgomery County arson tip line is 240-777-2263. . We have made updates to our WAMU Privacy Notice. A hateful incident against one community impacts us all, Elrich added. ICYMI (7/9) ~130a Sat morn 10100 Old Georgetown Rd, North Bethesda United Methodist Church, arson & associated vandalism, damage ~$1K, in addition Investigators located damaged head stones & broken wood pieces scattered 10200blk Old Georgetwn Rd A/F Wildwood Baptist Church pic.twitter.com/JJuWs4EMvS. The fire was knocked down a short time later. You can reach him by email at mhernandez@mymcmedia.org. Firefighters located several areas where small fires were set, or attempted to be set, inside of the church. However, no fire was reported at the church located in the 10200 block of Old Georgetown Road. Investigators are looking for more information about the fires. My heart is sad for the people who did this. While studying, Hugh interned at the Queen Anne & Magnolia News, a local paper in Seattle, and reported for the schools Capital News Service. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); Need help accessing the FCC Public File due to a disability? Lazzaros Authentic Italian Deli Closes in Montgomery Mall, Teenager Pleads Guilty to Murder for the Death Montgomery County Council Committee Meetings on July 25, 2022, HalfSmoke Now Open in Montgomery Mall, First Bar Ever in the Montgomery Mall Food Court, MCPS: Nine Things to Know for Thursday, July 21, MTPD Arrests Suspect in Attempted Rape at Transit Center in Silver Spring. Miss Toyas Southern Kitchen to Move In To MoCos Katie Ledecky Wins Awards for Best Female (July 2022 Edition) Whats Opening, Closing, and Coming MacGuffins Bar to Open Soon at AMC Theater Malias Kitchen to Open in Montgomery Mall, Update: Juvenile Identified in Church Vandalism and Arsons. Please contact Susan Rushkowski at publicfiledc@hubbardradio.com or (202) 895-5027. Wildwood Baptist is about a three-minute walk from North Bethesda Methodist Church. And they can damage the structure, but its a different thing to damage the church..

Damages are estimated to be around $1,000. She began as an intern with WTOP in the summer of 2021.

Like this post?

Sunday Mass was moved to Christopher Hall on the church campus. What is it that causes someone to come to a church and do this kind of mischief damage, I call it. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Less than a mile away, early Saturday morning officials discovered vandals had damaged the Wildwood Baptist Church and neighboring North Bethesda United Methodist Church, where a small fire had been started on the property outside, causing an estimated $1,000 in damages. One Juvenile Suspect Arrested and Charged With Armed Grosvenor Tower in North Bethesda Sold for Just (Located) Concern for Missing Seventy-Six-Year-Old. St. Jane Frances De Chantal Parish was vandalized at about 2 a.m. Sunday. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to North Bethesda United Methodist Church (10100 Old Georgetown Rd) in North Bethesda on Saturday, July 9, around 1:30am after the churchs fire alarm system was activated.

We cant allow this type of violence against religious institutions in our county, Friedson said in a tweet. ICYMI (7/9) ~130a Sat morn 10100 Old Georgetown Rd, North Bethesda United Methodist Church, arson & associated vandalism, damage ~$1K, in addition Investigators located damaged head stones & broken wood pieces scattered 10200blk Old Georgetwn Rd A/F Wildwood Baptist Church pic.twitter.com/JJuWs4EMvS. People broke in. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said the attacks on houses of worship in the county are completely unacceptable. We love our building, its a beautiful building and Im so glad that we have it, Rev. Authorities are investigating the fire as arson. Sign Up for Our Daily Update. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. @MontgomeryCoMD @mcfrs Fire/Explosive Investigators seeking info RE this mornings (2a) fire at Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church ANYONE w/ any info Call @mcfrs ARSON Tipline 240.777.2263 https://t.co/8LwDMTXE60 pic.twitter.com/osyYcSVRUY, Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 10, 2022. St. Jane Frances De Chantal Parish is a Catholic church with "a community of 1,900 families, whose purpose is to enable its members," according to its Facebook page. Damages are estimated at about $50,000. Tuesdays and Thursdays | Aug 2-Aug 25 | 6 PM EST, Wednesdays and Fridays | Aug 17-Aug 26 | 11 AM EST, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said the attacks, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Spokesman Pete Piringer, St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, County Launches Campaign to Reduce Food Waste, If Voting Holds, Next County Council Will Likely Feature More Women. Hugh Garbrick | Hugh.Garbrick@wtop.com Investigators also located damaged head stones and scattered broken wood pieces at Wildwood Baptist Church at 10200 Old Georgetown Rd, right down the road from United Methodist. They tore down the Stations of the Cross. Im not an investigator or prosecutor but certainly believe they should be and have every confidence they will be. AN ELITE CAFEMEDIA PUBLISHER Sixty-five firefighters responded to the scene and there were no injuries reported. All rights reserved. The initial investigation showed that someone forced entry into two of the churches before setting a fire and vandalizing various areas, police said. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.

Hugh has lived in Montgomery County his whole life. The first incident happened at North Bethesda Methodist Church at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, causing about $1,000 dollars in damage.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services Pete Piringer reports that the fires are being investigated as arson and anyone with information is asked to call the arson tipline at 240-777-2263. The church is not a building.

Investigators believe it is arson. A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Washington said in an email they were shocked and saddened by the vandalism, adding when we are tested by fire (literally, in this case), our resolve and bond are only strengthened.. The congregation at North Bethesda Methodist Church was asked to pray for those responsible.

He alluded to the countrys political divide on abortion, which has deepened since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that had legalized abortion almost 50 years ago. The criminal activity that took place over the weekend does not represent the values of inclusion and equity that we are striving for in the communities of this county. All Rights Reserved. All rights reserved, Overnight Fire at Maryland Church Disrupts Morning Mass, Arson Investigation Underway, Police Searching for Suspect Behind Grandparent Scam, Family Grieves Loss of Father and Son Fatally Shot in Alexandria, Man Shot in Domestic Incident at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Cyclist Killed in NW DC Crash Had Just Turned 40, Climbed Kilimanjaro, WATCH: Outtakes From Trump's Jan. 7 Speech. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Michael Hernndez is a multimedia reporter for Montgomery Community Media and Hola Montgomery. North Bethesda United Methodist Church is located on Old Georgetown Road, less than a mile away and on the same road as St. Jane's. After starting his professional broadcast career as an anchor and reporter for WGET and WGTY in Gettysburg, PA, he went on to spend several years in the world of sports media, working for Comcast SportsNet, MLB Network Radio, and WTOP sports. John Aaron | jaaron@wtop.com, Acacia James | ajames@wtop.comLauren Hamilton | lhamilton@wtop.com. Montgomery County Council Committee Meetings on July 25, HalfSmoke Now Open in Montgomery Mall, First Bar MCPS: Nine Things to Know for Thursday, July MTPD Arrests Suspect in Attempted Rape at Transit MCFRS Rescue Several People From Trench in Rockville. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. They desecrated the tabernacle and tried to set the church on fire..

Several pews in the main church area were set on fire, the fire department said. Derrick Ward reports. On Saturday, at approximately 1:30 a.m., authorities responded to the North Bethesda United Methodist Church in the 10100 block of Old Georgetown Road for arson and associated vandalism. What is broken in their lives, what is broken in their hearts? Jones said. Anybody who lives in this area, if they saw any unusual activity after midnight and before 2 a.m., call us, said Montgomery County Fire and EMS Spokesperson Pete Piringer. Investigators also located damaged head stones and broken wood pieces scattered at Wildwood Baptist Church, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer said. Last night our church was vandalized, Giese said. Damages are estimated to be around $50,000. The churches of different denominations are located in close proximity on Old Georgetown Road. On Sunday, July 10, MCFRS responded to a fire alarm at the St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church (9601 Old Georgetown Rd) shortly before 2am and arrived to find several pews on fire inside the church, according to a our Public Safety Correspondent Cordell Pugh. Anyone who may have seen suspicious activity near these churches is asked to call Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services tip line at 240-777-2263. Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story. Damages to the church have been estimated to be around $50,000. In 2020, Hugh graduated from the University of Marylands journalism college. Things are a mess right now in this world and this community, and we all need the peace," Jones said. 2022 WTOP. Worshipers of the St. Jane Frances De Chantal Catholic church attended Mass in alternate location after an overnight fire at the church. Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here. Investigators also found damage to head stones & broken wood pieces scattered at the cemetery adjacent to Wildwood Baptist. This John Aaron is a news anchor and reporter for WTOP. All Rights Reserved. Makes me think that despite people trying to inflict their feelings, that we will persevere.". Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. He is also a graduate from the University of Marylands Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Giese said he believed the vandalism was in response to the Catholic Churchs anti-abortion stance. "They came in, and most of it was what I would call mischief, which was dumping stuff out on the floor and that kind of stuff.

Around 2:15 a.m. on Sunday, Montgomery County firefighters responding to a call found several church pews on fire at Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, located on Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda near the Capital Beltway. Joye Jones from North Bethesda United Methodist Church said.

WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM, Juvenile suspect charged in Gaithersburg armed carjacking, 3 construction workers rescued from collapsed dirt trench in Montgomery County, Montgomery Co. will offer monkeypox vaccine to at-risk residents, Fairfax Co. officials say Silver Line project cant afford more delays, Prince Georges Co. officer to serve 1 year in jail for assault, paralyzing of handcuffed person, Metro police arrest suspect in alleged attempted rape, montgomery county fire and rescue service, Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, Army recruiting challenges mean force could shrink by tens of thousands more soldiers, Its not just the private sector agencies are competing with each other for cyber talent, House pulls funding from VA commission to close hospitals in FY 2023 spending bill, OPM says federal employees 'agency-hopping' to telework-friendly offices. Piringer urges anyone with information to call the arson tip line at 240-777-2263. At Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, officials said it took about 65 firefighters to put out the fire. Montgomery Community Media. We pride ourselves on our diversity of religious communities. Officials say vandals damaged three churches in Bethesda, Maryland, this weekend with fires being set at two of them. There was not a fire reported at the church.

One of the churches was not set on fire.

That there are those who believe that we do not have even the right to practice our faith, Giese said. Copyright 2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson called the incidents abhorrent and horrifying.. Accept Read More, Weekly Message from the County Executive Marc Elrich. Like WTOP on Facebook and follow WTOP on Twitter and Instagram to engage in conversation about this article and others. This website uses cookies to improve your experience.

Copyrights The MoCo Show 2022 - All Right Reserved. Despite the early morning fire, Sundays masses were held at the churchs Christopher Hall Gymnasium, according to the parish website. Investigators also found damaged headstones and broken wood pieces scattered around at nearby Wildwood Baptist Church on Saturday morning.