Two church fires broke out in Christchurch early Monday morning and authorities are treating the circumstances behind the blazes as suspicious. A cafe in New Brighton also caught fire at about 5.30am. Fire crews were first called to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Burwood just after 3 am. Less than half an hour Read more
Jacob Lowenstein was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison after he burned down two Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints buildings. His mother Kath Payne, said her son had a “strong mind “He’s not a mindless church-burning thug. He had a really good sized bout of depression and he made some really stupid choices in Read more
Jacob Lowenstein’s arsons of two churches was “a determined attempt to make a statement against religion”, said the judge who jailed the 28-year-old for six years nine months. Judge Saunders said Lowenstein saw his actions as a way of getting back at his father for his strict religious upbringing. He had tried to reach out Read more
A death metal drummer has been charged with setting two Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints churches ablaze. Jacob Lowenstein, 28, who plays for metal band Igni, appeared from custody via an audio-visual link at Christchurch District Court today on two charges of arson – and one of unlawfully taking a vehicle. Read more
St Philomena’s church which was burned down in 2014 has been replaced with a new school hall form St Pius X primary school. The new Philomena Hall was built over the last four months and can hold around 300 people. Principal Anna Wormald said the school was lucky to have the facility available, after three Read more
There are fears that fires in Orthodox churches in Australia, the United States and Russia at Easter are part of a row over a dead Croatian cardinal. Fires occurred at the churches in New York, Melbourne, Sydney and in Russia during the Orthodox Easter last month. Officials fear the fires may have been started in Read more