Police are investigating the second suspicious church fire in Durham region in two weeks.

Fire crews responded Christmas morning to a blaze at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Oshawa.

Durham police say the fire was quickly contained.

However, there was extensive smoke damage to the building and some of the statues outside.

On Dec. 14, the 143-year-old All Saints' Anglican Church in nearby Whitby was also ravaged by a suspicious fire.

Police say it's too early to say if the two blazes are connected.