News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

calais-church-demolish-main_article_image.jpg
Caroline Gregory
World News

Church at Calais migrant camp demolished by police

by Antony Bushfield

The pastor at the church, which was the smallest at the camp, remained on the site holding a cross as bulldozers moved in.

Workers at the camp told Premier the church was not St Michaels, the building featured on the BBC's Songs of Praise.

Caroline Gregory

"It's not the most famous church, St Michaels, it's the second church, which is the more Pentecostal charismatic church," Caroline Gregory from Christians for Calais told Premier.

Police had given little notice of plans to demolish the church and a nearby mosque.

Four shelters around St Michael's, the main church, were also demolished, but for the moment that church remains standing.

Caroline Gregory

Ms Gregory, who has been working in the camp for some time, said: "We don't know why. We had a verbal agreement with them that they wouldn't touch any churches or mosques.

"I believe it's just part of what's happening anyway which is the gradual destroying of the camp and pushing everyone inwards."

Caroline Gregory

French police have been demolishing parts of the refugee camp to create a 100 metre wide gap between the motorway and the site.

Aid agencies suspect up to 1,500 people are being forced to move.

Speaking in January, as French police announced plans to destroy parts of the camp, the Christian organisation Seeking Sanctuary told Premier it was "preposterous".

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate