FRANKLIN LAKES — A 26-year-old man charged with aggravated arson set fire Wednesday to a beloved community church, authorities said.
James Mayers was arrested and also charged with burglary in the fire at Most Blessed Sacrament Church on Franklin Lake Road, jail records show.
Police got a call at 1:30 a.m. about a possible fire at Urban Farms shopping center, a strip mall across the street from the parish. Officers rushed there to find the church, at 787 Franklin Lake Road, engulfed in flames.
Current and former parishioners expressed sadness and shock about the fire.
Ed Kenny, a former parishioner, said he was "in shock" after hearing about the fire. Now living in Manchester, Kenny was part of the committee to help raise funds for the permanent location of the church. When Kenny and his family first moved to Franklin Lakes, Mass would be held in the Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament's gym.
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"There are so many memories, mostly happy ones," Kenny said. "My daughter got married there."
He said the loss of the church has to be "devastating" to the current parishioners, especially ones who helped build the church.
The parish was established in the early 1960s, and the existing sanctuary was built about two decades later.
Fire Chief Ryan Dodd declined to answer questions about the fire.
Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament, a Blue Ribbon-school that serves Catholic boys and girls in Grades K-8 on the same property as the parish, was not impacted by the fire. Classes were canceled on Wednesday.
Diann Isola has memories of being a member of the parish going back to the 1960s and said she is heartbroken about the fire.
"It's horrible. I cried," Isola said. "I attended there my whole life. Every family memory is wrapped up in that church — weddings, baptisms, even my parents' funeral Masses. They would be devastated to see that church this morning. It's a very sad day.
Isola, who lives in Kinnelon, just recently celebrated her 30th wedding anniversary and had been looking at the album with her husband, admiring how beautiful the inside of the church looked. She said the sun came out and illuminated the pair on the alter. Her parents were also instrumental in the building of the church.
"It's just a beautiful community church," Isola said. "Everyone loved it and was so proud of it. It's just a shame, an absolute shame."
But Isola believes the community will rally together and fundraiser to rebuild the church as quickly as possible.
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Kaitlyn Kanzler covers Essex County for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: kanzler@northjersey.com Twitter: @KaitlynKanzler8
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Man charged with aggravated arson in Franklin Lakes church fire - NorthJersey.com
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