A man in his 50s has been arrested in connection with a suspicious fire that reduced a historic church in Aylmer to rubble.

Gatineau police made the arrest Wednesday morning, after searching a residence. Police say the man won't be identified until he's been formally charged. He is expected to appear in court on Thursday.

The fire gutted St-Paul's Roman Catholic Church in June, devastating parishioners who were in the midst of raising money to renovate the inside of the building.

An initial police investigation uncovered a gas can, as well as evidence that the church was broken into prior to the blaze.