Topeka ? An arson fire that caused an estimated $3 million to a Topeka church – the third arson-related church fire in just more than six months in the city – has local ministers wondering whether they need to beef up security.

The Friday morning fire at St. David’s Episcopal Church is believed to have started in the chapel, which was open to the public 24 hours a day, and spread through the larger, adjacent sanctuary. Fire officials determined the blaze was the result of arson.

The Rev. Don Davidson, rector at St. David’s, said the fire has religious leaders questioning whether it’s still safe to have such an open-access policy.

“I think every church is going to reassess their security,” Davidson said. “If there are any left that have 24-hour chapels, they may have to come to terms with the risk.”

In late April, an arson fire caused $250,000 damage to Hillside Community Church. In early June, Cornerstone Community Church was the victim of attempted arson.

But neither of those churches had 24-hour access and both were closed for the night when the fires broke out.

St. David’s, founded in 1953, has between 600 and 700 members and is among Kansas’ 10 largest Episcopal parishes.

“We may be experiencing a total loss here,” said Dean Wolfe, the Episcopal bishop for Kansas. “It’s more substantial than we originally thought.”

Few churches in Topeka have such open access. At Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, the facility is open around the clock, but not just anyone can enter.

Firefighters cut holes in the roof of the sanctuary at St. David's Episcopal Church in Topeka. The Friday morning arson fire heavily damaged the church at Southwest 17th Street and Gage Boulevard, causing an estimated million in damages.

“We have somebody at the church all the time,” said the Rev. Frank Krische, pastor at Most Pure Heart of Mary. “We lock our doors, and if people need to get in they ring the doorbell. The rule is, if you don’t know the person, you don’t let them in.”

Krische said his church already had been discussing increased security before the St. David’s fire, but hasn’t considered closing the church at night.

“Our people find if they spend an hour in the church, even if it is 2 in the morning, that one hour is the best hour of the week,” he said. “At this point, I haven’t heard that anyone has said they want to change the times they visit.”

The Rev. Timothy Warren, pastor at Hillside Community Church, said news of another church arson is hard for him to comprehend.

“I don’t understand why people would do this to a church,” he said. “It just made me sick to my stomach. A church helps people. It doesn’t do any bad.”

Davidson said he’s saddened by the measures that churches have to take for security purposes.

“It’s depressing in one sense to think we must provide security for a house of prayer,” he said. “I wouldn’t want a day when you need metal detectors and security that you see at an airport to get into a church.”