Somerville Church Says Fire Was Set In Sanctuary After Pride Worship Service

SOMERVILLE, MA – A fire was set inside a Somerville church’s sanctuary just after a Pride worship service on Sunday, June 11, church officials said.

Congregants of First Church Somerville, located at 89 College Ave., were in a social hall directly below the sanctuary working on a service project when the fire began, according to a news release Rev. Laura Everett, executive director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, posted on Twitter.

A member of the congregation extinguished the fire, and the Somerville Fire Department was later alerted to the incident. No one was harmed during the fire, but the sanctuary did face some localized damage.

The incident is currently being investigated by local and state authorities, and it is not yet known whether there was a connection between the Pride service and the fire, church officials said in the release.

The church maintained its stance as a safe space for the queer community to worship safely despite the fire.

“Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, First Church Somerville will continue to be unapologetically queer, queer affirming, and Christian,” officials said.

Somerville community members are welcome to attend services at the church on Sunday at 10 a.m. on the lower floor of the building “as we continue the celebration of queer joy and the power of Christian community,” officials said.

The Somerville Fire Department has asked anyone with any information please contact the Somerville Fire Investigation Unit and the Somerville Police Department.