The tower of the heritage-protected Reformed Church in Cehu Silvaniei (Szilágycseh, Romania), which was undergoing renovation, collapsed on Tuesday evening. The Királyhágómellék Reformed Church District (KREK) reported on Wednesday that while the tower had serious structural defects, nobody expected the centuries-old walls to collapse. KREK has launched a fundraising campaign to rebuild the tower.
In a statement signed by Bishop Szabolcs Bogdán and Chief Administrator Lajos Bara, the collapse of the tower in Sălaj County (Szilágy County) was described as “shocking” and said to have deeply affected the community.
Located in the town center along the main street, the Reformed Church is one of the oldest and most significant monuments in the region.
During the collapse, a local policewoman who was on her way to work was injured, and a nearby parked car was damaged.
The church district emphasized that the parish had conducted the renovation properly, following all legal requirements and involving the appropriate specialists. Although experts had identified serious structural problems with the tower, they did not anticipate that the ancient walls would collapse.
The collapsed tower had been added to the former Gothic nave in the 17th century.
“In this emergency, our only consolation is that there were no human casualties and that the tower can be rebuilt, even though the cost far exceeds the parish’s resources,” the statement said. Donations can be made to the parish’s bank account (RO88BTRLRONCRT0T03790712, Transilvania Bank) with the note Turnul din Cehu Silvaniei.
Zoltán Szilágyi, pastor of the Reformed parish in Cehu Silvaniei, told Krónika that renovation work began on the 15th–16th-century church after cracks appeared in the ceiling. Experts had determined that the cracks likely resulted from movement in the tower and issues with the underlying ground.
The approved funding for the full renovation included reinforcement of the tower. As part of the work, the roof structure was renewed, and plaster was removed up to four meters high, revealing cracks in the tower walls. Experts recommended supporting the tower from both inside and outside during the reinforcement.
Photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt
According to Pastor Szilágyi, the interior wall had been supported, and exterior reinforcement was scheduled for Wednesday.
On Tuesday, workers prepared the necessary materials and then went home late in the afternoon. Within an hour, the tower collapsed,”
he said.
The pastor also denied that any excavations or earthworks had taken place around the exterior wall. Trial trenches were dug inside the church, in the old altar area and nave, but not near the tower. Inside, there were no signs of damage to the church walls, and the tower had almost completely separated from the rest of the building.
“The collapse only brought down the main façade, that was structurally connected to the tower,” he emphasized. He added that experts must determine the cause of the collapse, and the church council will decide on next steps based on their findings.
Photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt
As part of the Romanian Ministry of Culture’s heritage protection program, the church had been undergoing extensive renovations valued at around €2 million. Work began in December 2024 and included structural reinforcement, restoration of the roof and façades, and replacement of the electrical system. Completion was scheduled for the end of 2027.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Culture announced that a crisis team, led by State Secretary Koppány Ötvös and including representatives of national and regional heritage institutions, has been established. The team is maintaining constant contact with the local pastor and the professionals responsible for the renovation. A comprehensive on-site investigation is underway to determine the causes of the collapse, including the methods used during the renovation. The ministry stressed that all efforts are being made to continue restoration and preservation of the church once the investigation is complete.
Almost 46 percent of Cehu Silvaniei’s roughly 6,300 residents are of Hungarian ethnicity, the vast majority of whom are Reformed.
Via MTI, Krónika; Featured image: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt
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