A Church in West Virginia known as the Little Catholic Church on Irish Mountain burnt down in an suspected arson attack

By Samantha Allen

Published: June 27, 2022 | 5:08 PM GMT

An alleged arson attack destroyed the historic St. Colman Catholic Church in Raleigh County, West Virginia, on Sunday, according to the local volunteer fire department.

The church is known as “The Little Catholic Church on Irish Mountain,” and it is on the National Register of Historic Places.

“On 6/26/2022 units from Beaver VFD were alerted to a structure fire at the Saint Colman Catholic Church on Irish Mountain Road in Shady Spring, WV,” the Beaver Volunteer Fire Department said in an online post.

The church had already burned to the ground and was “smoldering” when the department arrived on the scene, according to the post. The post claims that the fire is “suspicious in nature.” According to the post, arson is being looked into in relation to the incident.

The Wheeling-Charleston Diocese is home to St. Colman’s. On Monday morning, CNA tried to get in touch with the diocese for more details, but nobody was immediately accessible.

According to the post, “We were assisted by Ghent VFD, Coal City VFD, Ghent EMS, National Park Service, and the WV State Police.”

The department is requesting that anyone with relevant information get in touch with Trooper D. Daniels of the West Virginia State Police at (304) 256-6700. Crime Stoppers of Raleigh County at 304-255-STOP, the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Arson Hotline at 1 (800) 233-3473, and www.crimestopperswv.com are additional ways to get in touch.

This story is still developing.

About Samantha Allen

Samantha Allen is a seasoned journalist and senior correspondent at TDPel Media, specializing in the intersection of maternal health, clinical wellness, and public policy. With a background in investigative reporting and a passion for data-driven storytelling, Samantha has become a trusted voice for expectant mothers and healthcare advocates worldwide. Her work focuses on translating complex medical research into actionable insights, covering everything from prenatal fitness and neonatal care to the socioeconomic impacts of healthcare legislation. At TDPel Media, Samantha leads the agency's health analytics desk, ensuring that every report is grounded in accuracy, empathy, and scientific integrity. When she isn't in the newsroom, she is an advocate for community-led wellness initiatives and an avid explorer of California’s coastal trails.