A 32-year-old man is facing a series of charges after an incident at a church in Morden on Sunday morning.

Around 10 a.m. that morning, members of the Morden Police Service responded to a 9-1-1 report of an agitated man who had entered the church and was possibly carrying a handgun.

Seated near the front of the sanctuary, witnesses reported the man was yelling, using profanities and making gestures during the service that was underway, adding he had lifted his sweater to reveal a handgun tucked into his waistband. Police say the witnesses also indicated there were off-duty officers from the Winkler Police Service near the suspect.

Once in position, the responding officers from Morden advised staff to pull the fire alarm in order to evacuate the church. The suspect was apprehended by uniformed officers as he left the sanctuary however, police say he began to resist, and with the help of the off-duty police officers in attendance, he was finally taken into custody without incident.

The firearm in the man's waistband was found and discovered to be a replica.

As a result, the man has been charged with possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, two counts of assault with a weapon, carrying a weapon in a public place, carrying a concealed weapon, causing a disturbance, creating a nuisance and two counts of failing to comply with a probation order.

The accused was remanded into custody with a Winnipeg court appearance set for Tuesday.