A Victorian man has been arrested less than 24 hours after a regional church was set alight in a brazen attack.

CCTV from inside the Cathedral of Christ the King church in Ballarat captured a male appearing to pour accelerant from a red jerry can before igniting furniture shortly after 3 p.m. on Thursday.

According to Victoria Police, the fire was quickly extinguished by church staff, with police estimating the damage bill at $75,000.

“The incident is not believed to be religiously motivated,” a spokesman said.

The man allegedly smashed a window while leaving, with the fire damaging a lectern, altar and other antique furniture.

Detectives in the regional city arrested a 53-year-old Ballarat man on Bell St in Reden the following day, charging him with arson, criminal damage, assault an

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