The man believed responsible for setting a fire at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church Easter Sunday is under arrest.

Marc Porlier was taken into custody by OPP Huntsville Monday afternoon.

He’ll face charges of arson and mischief when he appears in court Tuesday morning.

Father Andrew Maderak says the suspect was a former member of the church.

Mayor John Tory met with parishioners after touring the church.

(Martin Trainor / CBC)

”This is a parish that’s been here for 100 years.  This particular building has been here for almost 65 years, so when this kind of thing happens it cuts to the heart of the community that’s been a wonderful contributing community in our city for decades.”

The mayor says ”divine intervention” may have saved the church.

”It must have been a divine hand that looked down on this church because you can see how this church, the wooden part of this structure, could have erupted in flames if it had been any different.”

(Martin Trainor / CBC)

The church will remain closed the next few days for clean up.