The inside of Whitehouse Presbyterian Church on the Shore Road in Newtownabbey was destroyed in the fire which was discovered at about 0330 BST on Friday.

The church has been the target of several previous arson attacks.

A number of vehicles in an adjoining car dealership were also destroyed.

This congregation does not hold hatred in their hearts and it will not seriously affect the good community relations

Dr Russell Birney Presbyterian Moderator

The church's minister, Reverend Liz Hughes, said she hoped to hold services at the weekend in the adjoining church hall which was not damaged in the incident.

She said the attack was a "blow for the local community".

"It was a dreadful shock to get this news in the early hours of the morning and to come down and see the church and the state it is in," she said.

"We don't know what the cause is but this is a church where the people all work together, they all care for one other and they all care for their church building."

Local clergy from across the community have visited the church to offer their sympathy, among them a priest whose own church was destroyed in an arson attack last year.

"All the Catholic churches in this area will be taking up a collection on Sunday week as a gesture of our sympathy and concern to this awful act of desecration," said Father Dan Whyte.

The Presbyterian Moderator Doctor Russell Birney, said the church would be rebuilt.

Nigel Dodds: "It is very sad to see a place of worship being destroyed"

"This church will become a living reality again and people will worship in that charred out building," he said.

"As far as I know this congregation does not hold hatred in their hearts and it will not seriously affect the good community relations.

"People from every community have come to give their sympathy to the minister and to the members of the congregation."

The area's Democratic Unionist MP Nigel Dodds expressed sympathy to worshippers at the church.

"It is very sad for the entire community to see a place of worship being destroyed by fire," he said.

"I know the Reverend Elizabeth Hughes and her congregation will be devastated by this and it is to be hoped that the cause will be swiftly discovered.

Mr Dodds appealed for people to co-operate with the investigation into the incident.