Notre-Dame-du-Bout-du-Pont Closed by Municipal Decision Following Degradations Caused by Fire
For fifteen days the church Notre-Dame-du-Bout-du-Pont in Villeneuve-sur-Lot was closed. The decision was due to an incident that happened in the begining of the month. A neighbour saw smoke coming from the church by chance and alerted the police. Security forces arrived immediately on the spot and managed to extinguish the fire themselves with the fire extingusher. They found a candle under the table that serves to deposit prayer books which might have caused the flame. Unfortunately, it burned everything around. "This is obviously not her place and she did not arrive there alone", commented Father Bouchet .The church was recently renewed with many wooden furniture installed which are easily inflamed and suffer deepen damages.
On the following Tuesday Father Bouchet went to the police station and lodged a complaint. He also revealed that on the same Saturday, the door of the sacristy of the chapel of the Sainte-Catherine cemetery was smashed.
"Theft, again, we can understand. But degrading just to degrade is difficult, says the priest. It is also grueling for all laypeople and volunteers who give their time and energy to make the place welcoming and open to the public. ", said the father according to Sudouest's report.
The same church was again fired in February.
Source: Sudouest
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