The blaze caused minor damage to the sanctuary of Rehobeth Baptist Church in the small community of Cataula, Harris County Sheriff Mike Jolley said Wednesday. The fire ignited around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
One of the suspects is from Cataula and the other is from Alabama, sheriff's officials said. Both men, who are being held in the Harris County Jail, face a charge of aggravated arson.
Items taken from the church were found at the home of one suspect, Jolley told The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. He said investigators were led to the suspects after canvassing the neighborhood and asking residents about people seen in the area around the time of the fire.
A 150-year-old Bible is always kept face-up at the front of the sanctuary. He said the suspects turned it upside down to start the fire.
"When we turned the Bible back upside down, it was on the page where Moses was at the burning bush," he said.
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