The remaining part of the historic Elijah Missionary Baptist Church in Albany's South End must be demolished due to a fire caused by a space heater on its second floor last week, a city official said Wednesday.

"After thorough inspection of the Elijah Missionary Baptist Church by our buildings professionals and consideration of any potential stabilization efforts, we have determined in the interest of public safety the remaining portion of the church must be removed due to the damage sustained by the recent fire," said Alyson Baker, deputy chief of staff to the Albany mayor.

Demolition started recently on the post-Civil War era church located at 70 Second Ave., Albany. After that is done, the church tower will be taken down, with the entire demolition likely to take another week, Baker said.

The fire and smoke awakened Bishop Avery Comithier, who was sleeping in the rectory, late in the night of Nov. 14. 

In an interview with Spectrum News 1, he called the church an integral part of the community, and said the congregation would love to rebuild.

"The church is a building and for sentimental reasons, yes, you hurt," Comithier said. "But as I told the congregation, the word church is spelled "ch" in the front and "ch" in the back, but in the middle is "ur," and you are the church."