Crime

Teen accused of setting fire at Beverly church

The 17-year-old was the second juvenile to be accused of setting a church fire this week on the North Shore.

September 29, 2025

1 minute to read

Beverly police have arrested a 17-year-old boy accused of setting a fire at a local church early Monday morning.

Emergency crews responded to Pilgrim Cumberland Presbyterian Church on Cabot Street around 3:39 a.m. following a 911 call about smoke billowing from the house of worship, Beverly police said in a news release.

Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the blaze and determined it had been intentionally set, according to the release. The State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit also responded to the scene.

Beverly police said officers located the teen boy nearby and took him into custody. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Salem Juvenile Court Monday on charges of breaking and entering a building in the nighttime with intent to commit a felony, burning a public building or structure, and destroying a place of worship.

Authorities have not publicly named the teen.

“Beverly Police and Fire are actively investigating this incident, but believe the juvenile was the sole perpetrator and that there is no further threat to the community,” according to the news release. “At this time, the investigation does not indicate any connection to any other incidents.”

Authorities on Monday also identified another juvenile as the alleged perpetrator in two fires at a church in nearby Marblehead. In that case, a 12-year-old is accused of setting small fires at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church on two consecutive Sundays.