All-Saints Anglican Church in downtown Whitby, Ont., was gutted by fire, and police and fire marshal officials suspect arson may have been the cause. A gas can was inspected and then taken away at mid-morning. (QMI/Stan Behal)

WHITBY -- The clock on All Saints' Anglican Church's steeple stopped at 4:54 a.m. yesterday -- the minute firefighters were alerted by an alarm to what police later called a "suspicious" blaze.

As news spread of heavy damage throughout the 143-year-old historical structure, Christmas plans and a New Year's Eve wedding were cancelled.

Near gaping front and rear window frames -- once filled by stained glass and below the sagging slate roof -- 90 Christmas hampers collected for distribution to the needy yesterday were destroyed.

The church's ministers, Rev. Kenneth Davis and Rev. Beverley Williams, were consulting their area bishop to discuss options yesterday.

"It breaks my heart," parishioner Cheryl Gilchrist told Davis on the other side of Dundas St., east of Brock St.

"It's unbelievable," said Sandy Saunders, who on Oct. 16, was the last bride married in All Saints.

"Hopefully, the whole community will help us rebuild," she said, before joining others from the 350-family parish to begin collecting new donations at nearby Henry Street High School. "The church is all about the people ... we will come together."

One of the 37 firefighters suffered "minor injuries" tackling the three-alarm inferno, Whitby fire department spokesman Shawna Coulter said, adding help came from firefighters stationed in Oshawa and Ajax.

"Flames were coming through the roof when they arrived," she said.

Durham Regional Police Insp. Jamie Grant said arson is suspected, but investigators and an Ontario Fire Marshal's inspector were kept out until mid-afternoon due to hotspots.

Firefighters reported a broken window, and a gas can left outside will undergo forensic tests, Grant said.

Parishioners said vandals recently broke windows and pushed over the large sign out front.

It read: "We're expecting. Be still and watch for his star."

Choking back tears, Hugh Cole, 74, who changed the sign with wife Ada the night before, said "we didn't expect this."

Offers of help poured in early, Davis said. He praised firefighters for saving several rare, embroidered tablecloths, called antependia, used for seasonal services, but fears many other historic objects are lost.

"Thank God for all our friends," Davis said. "We may be overwhelmed by those acts of care."

IAN.ROBERTSON@SUNMEIDA.CA