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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) A fire that destroyed the inside of a Valley City church on Monday has been ruled as arson. Fire Chief Gary Retterath says several investigators agree that the fire was set.

Retterath says tells newsdakota.com that investigation was done with the help of the state fire marshal’s office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives unit with the assistance of a trained dog. He says the church has been sealed off as the criminal investigation continues.

According to the Associated Press, police are looking into the possibility that the fire might be connected to a recent string of church burglaries. Valley City police investigated burglaries at four churches in September, including two break-ins at Faith Lutheran Church in Valley City.

Faith Lutheran Church Council president Tory Hart says we hope to build a new church before Christmas of 2014.

A temporary location for the church will be inside the former USDA building next to the Wagon Wheel Inn.

L to R Faith Lutheran church members hold a prayer service on Wednesday and then walk to St. Catherine’s for supper and a church council meeting on October 23. Photos by Tim Ost.

Meanwhile, Sunday’s worship service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church at 8:30am. A donation fund for Faith Lutheran Church has been set up at Dacotah Bank and Bank Forward in Valley City.