A four-alarm fire ripped through St. Anne’s Anglican Church Sunday morning.
While no one was inside at the time of the blaze, the national historic site was severely damaged including a priceless Group of Seven murals inside.
Before Sunday service began, Toronto fire crews rushed to church before 8 a.m.
The fire destroyed everything inside the grand 1908 Byzantine-style building, including sacred artwork created by the “Group of Seven,” a renowned group of Canadian painters.
“It was priceless, the whole work were murals, covered all over the place, really highlighting the life of Jesus. They were stunning, just stunning,” says Priest Don Beyers.
Officials say the fire was knocked down in the building’s main body and there were no occupants or injuries at the site.
Beyers stated, “Nobody was here, the church was all locked up, lights off and everything. so it’s a real mystery how this all happened.”
Toronto Fire says it’s too early to speculate what caused the fire and where the fire originated. Fire officials believe the structure may not remain intact given the extensive damage.
“Given the damage, given the heat and the amount of water being used, it’s very probable we will have further collapses,” said Deputy Chief Jim Jessop.
It’s unclear if the fire is suspicious. Toronto Fire says the office of the fire marshal has been notified.
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