CHICAGO — A fire destroyed a small neighborhood church on the West Side of Chicago while the pastor and several members were on a retreat.

They say it isn’t the first time an incident like this has happened there.

Police said the first report of smoke came in before 5 a.m. Saturday after fire was coming through the roof of the West Garfield Park Church at Cicero and Fulton.

The pastor and several members were on a retreat when they learned of the fire.

They’re grateful no one was in the building.

Chance Ministries holds Pre-K and kindergarten classes, running after-school and community outreach programs.

A newspaper article about the fire here 20 years ago on display in one of the church windows survived.

150 families that make up the congregation rebuilt.