NATCHEZ — Congregants of the New Hope Baptist Church are concerned and confused over a strange pile of burned paper towels in their church.

Deacon Mack Washington said he suspects someone tried to set the church on fire.

“I have no idea why anyone would do this,” he said.

The church, on Liberty Road, sits just over a mile from the Franklin County line.

Many of its members are from Franklin County, Washington said.

Washington’s wife, Marjorie, said the church is only used every four weeks for services.

“So we’re not sure when this happened,” she said.

Marjorie Washington said the church’s last service was May 25.

The burned pile of paper towels was not discovered until Tuesday.

Mack Washington said he could not remember if the church door was locked between the time of the last service and Tuesday.

Mack Washington said he could find no evidence that the church had been broken into after inspecting the premises.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office was called to investigate the matter.

Deputy Maj. Jody Waldrop said investigators, like Washington, could not find any signs of a forced entry.

But the Washingtons said they are more concerned with seeking answers than justice.

“God is going to judge them,” Mack Washington said. “That’s not my job.”

Aside from scorched linoleum there was no damage to the church.

Waldrop said the matter is under investigation.