HELSINKI, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The historic vicarage in Kempele, northern Finland, was destroyed by fire on Tuesday evening, local media reported.
Kempele is the hometown of Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila. Finnish media have been filled with profiles of his political career, following his pledge on Tuesday not to continue as chairman of the Center Party.
Sipila has said in public over the years his Christian religion is important to him.
Another theme in the news on Tuesday has been the safety of churches, following the fire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.
The reason for the vicarage fire has not been reported. The vicarage was empty as repairs were to start. The building from 1899 is a two-storey heavy logs construction typical of the area.
In Finland, several fires of religious buildings have been lit on purpose. In 2006, an arsonist burnt the Porvoo cathedral in southern Finland, and in 2016 the wooden church from the 18th century in Ylivieska, western Finland, was also lit on purpose.
