A 35-year-old Christchurch woman has been charged with arson following a fire at a New Brighton church.

Fire crews were called to Life Church QE2 on Atlantis Street shortly after 2.30PM.

No one was inside the building when the fire broke out.

Appliances from Anzac, New Brighton, and Woolston stations responded, and the blaze was contained to a single room, police said.

A woman, who is believed to have no connection to the church, was arrested at the scene.

She is due to appear in the Christchurch District Court tomorrow, a police spokesman said.