(Saint John)-Saint John city police  major crime unit is investigating after what’s being called a “suspicious” fire destroyed a church in the city’s west side.

The  building on Church Avenue West caught fire at around 4 a.m.this morning.

Saint John building inspectors said what’s left of the Torch for Truth Tabernacle Church will have to be torn down because it is unsafe.

The former Pentecostal church had been vacant since 2008, following a flood in the basement.