The incident happened on Saturday just after 8 a.m. at Saint Elizabeth Catholic Church on Pilgrims Way.
An anonymous Crime Stoppers tip lead officers to the arrest of 44-year-old Thomas Jon Peluso of Boone. He was taken into custody on Monday and charged with felony attempting to the burning of a religious building. He is being held in the Watauga County Detention Center under a secured bond of $50,000.
The church was not damaged according to police.
Photo: Boone Police Department