These images reportedly show a cross on top of a church that went up in flames during heavy rain while the faithful were attending Ash Wednesday mass.

The incident took place atop the Catholic church tower, which is located in the municipality of Missao Velha, in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Ceara, last night, on 2nd March, which is when the Catholic faithful celebrated Ash Wednesday.

The fire did not spread – perhaps it was thanks to the rain – and the structure was left relatively intact.

The priest, who has been named as Antonio Luiz, who is reportedly in charge of the parish of Igreja Matriz Sao Jose, said that the fire started after a short circuit in the wiring that goes up to the top of the church tower caused the cross to ignite despite the heavy rain.

He said: “It was an old acrylic cross with internal lighting. With this heavy rain at night, there was a combustion that ended up consuming the entire structure on the cross, but without injuring anyone, because the church is high and the ceiling is all made of asbestos. sparks never touched the ground.”

Still according to the parish priest, he called three electricians who work doing maintenance on the church and asked them to go up the tower and check on the burning cross.

The professionals reportedly then cut the wires going up to the tower to insulate the wiring and the fire was put out.

No injuries were reported among the worshippers.