Detectives have charged a man following an alleged arson attack on a church in Ballarat on Thursday.

Witnesses alleged the man was acting erratically inside the church on Lydiard Street South at around 3pm on Thursday.

Police allege the man set a lectern, altar and other antique furniture alight before smashing a window and fleeing the scene.

The fire was extinguished and the damage was estimated to be around $75,000.

Two men were in the church at the time but were uninjured.

Detectives executed a search warrant at a property on Bell Street in Redan and arrested a 53-year-old man yesterday.

"Our team of detectives demonstrated their efficiency and skill in identifying, locating, and arresting the offender for this incident in under 24 hours," Detective Sergeant Glen Melder said.

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