Historic West Virginia church burned to the ground in suspicious fire

A historic West Virginia Catholic Church burned to the ground Sunday in what authorities said was likely arson.

According to local news, the Saint Colman Catholic Church in Shady Spring, WV had burned beyond saving by the time the Beaver Volunteer Fire Department arrived.

The fire comes after a string of attacks and vandalisms on religious, pro-life pregnancy centers and clinics across the United States in the wake of the overturn of Roe v Wade.

In a June 24 memo the Department of Homeland Security drafted a warning of increased pro-abortion extremist attacks, many perpetrated by the radical "Jane's Revenge" terrorist group. DHS had also specifically told Catholic Churches to be aware of the group promising a "Night of Rage."

Saint Colman’s Roman Catholic Church was also known as the “Little Catholic Church on Irish Mountain."

According to TheClio.com, an online history and culture guide, the church and cemetery were built "atop Sullivan’s Knob on Irish Mountain in Raleigh County, West Virginia" in 1877 and 1878 and was "the first Roman Catholic Church in Raleigh County."

The church was recognized as an important historical landmark in West Virginia and served as "a reminder of the prominent Irish immigrant community that settled on Irish Mountain."

The Beaver Volunteer Fire Department wrote on Facebook, "Upon arrival we found the structure was already burned to the ground and smoldering. At this time the fire is considered suspicious in nature and is being investigated as arson."

They ask that anyone with any information contact the WV State Police at 304-256-6700, the WV State Fire Marshal’s Arson Hotline at 800-233-3473 or Crime Stoppers of Raleigh County at 304-255-STOP.