A woman has been taken into custody after a fire broke out at a church in New Brighton.

Emergency services were called to the Life Church QEII on Atlantis Street just after 2.30pm.

Three fire appliances were initially sent to the scene due to the visible flames, with two additional crews later brought in to assist.

Firefighters from Anzac, Christchurch City and Woolston stations responded and managed to bring the fire under control.

A  police spokesman told Chris Lynch Media “a woman has been arrested following a fire at a building on Atlantis Street in New Brighton this afternoon.”

The fire was contained to a single room in the one-storey building.