Notre Dame des Champs was struck by an arson attack on July 24, just one day after an accidental fire damaged its choir loft, intensifying concerns about the safety of France’s religious sites.
Newsroom (29/07/2025, Gaudium Press )Notre Dame des Champs, a cherished Catholic church in the heart of Montparnasse, was struck by an arson attack on July 24, just one day after an accidental fire damaged its choir loft, intensifying concerns about the safety of France’s religious sites.
The first fire, which erupted on the morning of July 23, was traced to a faulty electrical circuit that destroyed the church’s sound system and choir organ, according to Le Figaro. Less than 24 hours later, vandals targeted a side chapel dedicated to St. Joseph, setting fire to wooden panels. The blaze severely damaged a recently renovated canvas above the panels and caused a statue of St. Joseph to fall and shatter as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, The Tablet reported. The publication noted that France has seen 50 church fires or attempted arsons in the past year, up from 38 in 2023.
No injuries were reported in either incident.
“This second fire caused even more damage,” Father Camille Millour, the church’s pastor, wrote in a July 25 statement on the parish website. He announced that an investigation is underway and expressed gratitude to first responders. Millour, alongside the City of Paris, filed a police complaint, and the archbishop of Paris has voiced support for the parish community.
“For reasons of the investigation and rehabilitation of the building, our church will remain closed for an indefinite period,” Millour added.
Jean-Pierre Lecoq, mayor of Paris’s sixth arrondissement, where the church is located, voiced alarm over the rapid succession of incidents. “Second fire in less than 24 hours at Notre-Dame-des-Champs church!” he posted on X. “The investigation will determine the causes, as the occurrence of these two incidents in such a short time raises legitimate questions. In any case, the building must be secured urgently.”
Following the initial fire, Lecoq had called for an audit of the church’s electrical and security systems, citing the failure of the fire alarm. The consecutive incidents have heightened scrutiny on the church’s infrastructure, particularly as it prepares for its 150th anniversary next year. Millour emphasized that a planned campaign to replace the church’s lighting is now “essential” for both safety and aesthetic reasons, given the exposed electrical vulnerabilities.
The dual fires have left the Montparnasse community grappling with shock and uncertainty, as authorities work to uncover the full circumstances behind the attacks on this historic landmark.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
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