


A Somerville church’s sanctuary was set on fire after a Pride worship service over the weekend, as state and local fire officials investigate the blaze.
First Church Somerville reported that the fire was set in its sanctuary, while the congregation was downstairs directly below the sanctuary working on a service project. The fire happened right after the church’s Pride worship service on Sunday.
A member of the congregation extinguished the fire, and no one was physically injured. There is some damage to the sanctuary.
“The incident is currently being investigated by the local and state authorities,” the church wrote. “We do not yet know whether there is a connection between our Pride service and the fire. We are grateful to the Somerville Fire Department for their ongoing investigation and support.
“Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, First Church Somerville will continue to be unapologetically queer, queer affirming, and Christian,” the church added. “We know queer people are made in the image of our Creator and the queer community holds prophetic power in the kin-dom of God.”
The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services confirmed that the fire is being investigated by the Somerville Fire Department, Somerville Police Department, and State Fire Marshal’s office.
“Investigators have not reached a determination as to its cause, but they are deeply sensitive to the role that all houses of worship have in their communities,” the spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said in a statement.
This church fire investigation comes after a massive Easter fire at a Cambridge church. Police investigating that fire believe the blaze was likely intentionally set, as officials asked the public for any photos or videos of Faith Lutheran Church from Easter weekend.
The raging 6-alarm fire at 311 Broadway in Cambridge destroyed the church, which had a service Easter morning, hours before the building was engulfed in heavy fire and smoke in the late afternoon into the evening.