Horror as a son is accused of the murder of his father in horrible Sydney House Fire

A man is accused of murder hours after his elderly father died in a suspicious house fire.

Emergency services were called to a house on Irrara St in Croydon, in Sydney‘s Inner West, around 4 o’clock on Wednesday.

Firefighters extinguished the fire but later discovered the body of Edward ‘Ted’ Grantham, 80, in the building.

Mr. Grantham was an organist in the Hunter Baillie Church in Annandale after a long career as a music teacher and Lag Pastor.

He and his wife Anne have six children and 18 grandchildren, according to the website of the church.

“Ted was a beloved and appreciated member of the church and the wider community,” church moderator Dominee Danny Ford told The Sydney Morning Herald

“Our thoughts and prayers are with family, friends and all of us while we mourn for this difficult time.”

Mr. Grantham was also an elder of the Presbyterian Church of Australia.

Church organist and retired Lay Pastor Edward ‘Ted’ Grantham (depicted with wife Anne) was killed early on Wednesday in a house fire

The intensity of the fire in Croydon’s house meant that firefighters had difficulty entering the building and were temporarily forced to withdraw themselves

Ted’s son Christopher Grantham (photo) was arrested by the police on Wednesday evening and accused of murder

The NSW police have lodged a public appeal for help finding a man, 50, they believed they could help with questions

The man was identified by the Herald as the son of Mr Grantham, Christopher, who lived it in the house at that time.

He was arrested in Woy Woy on the NSW Central Coast shortly after 7.30 pm on Wednesday evening.

Christopher, who was known to the police, spent the night by detectives.

He is accused of murder, destroying or damaging property with the intention of jeopardizing life and armed robbery.

The cause of the fire still has to be determined.

Police -Superintendent Christine McDonald paid tribute to the combined efforts of the police and specialized officers investigating the fire.

“This has been an intensive hours to find a man that we believe can help with our questions about what we claim is a suspicious fire, and I thank my officers and all the other officers who have offered their help,” she said.

Mr Grantham’s wife, Anne, was not at home at the time of the fire. She helps the police with their questions.

The research under Strike Force Leverier continues.

Anyone with information or images is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Ted Grantham is remembered as ‘beloved and appreciated member’ of the community

Parts of the roof collapsed while firefighters tried to get the flames under control