A petrol container was found at the scene

The fire was discovered in the rear porch at Saint Colman's Catholic Church in Lambeg just after midnight on Wednesday.

Two wooden doors were charred and the walls were scorched.

A petrol container was found at the scene.

SDLP Assembly member Patricia Lewsley said the attack would not stop local churches from working together.

Is this the terrorist version of good cop, bad cop? Seamus Close Alliance MLA

"I think the sad thing about it is that even though the damage has been minimal, it has caused distress to the people who work in or live close to the church.

"But it won't stop the community work the priests and others do in conjunction with members of the other churches in the area," she said.

Alliance MLA Seamus Close said the attack "on a house of God calls into question the intent of loyalist thugs and gangsters".

"On one hand, they cynically leave pipe bombs for the security forces to deal with, while on the other their fellow hoods are trying to burn down a place of worship.

"Is this the terrorist version of good cop, bad cop?" he said.

Sinn Fein councillor Paul Butler said that he was in no doubt that what he called "unionist paramilitaries" were behind the attack.