Remote community loses church to fire

The priest of a remote Manitoban Anglican church says she appreciates the prayers of other Christians and denominations after their church burned down Wednesday.

Sergeant Paul Manaigre with the RCMP 'D' Division says that RCMP in Shamattawa, MB received a call about a fire at St. John's Anglican Church around 10:15 a.m.

"Upon arrival, the officers found the building completely engulfed in flames," Manaigre said. "In the end the building was completely destroyed."

The good news, Manaigre says, is nobody was in the building at the time and nobody was injured. He stressed that the fire was not suspicious. "At this time community members have been speaking with the officers, and they believe it to be caused by mechanical issues."

'I was so brokenhearted' - priest

The congregation's priest, Rev. Mary Miles said that she was brokenhearted when she got the call informing her of the fire. She called around looking for a ride and was finally able to arrive on the scene.

"It was already a big fire when I got there," Miles says.

For now, the local Pentecostal church has opened their doors to allow St. John's to hold worship gatherings in their building.

Rev. Miles says that leaders of other denominations and churches have been calling her to offer support. "They've been praying for us and blessing us," she says. They've also been encouraging her she says to "keep going."