Demolition began Sunday morning at the Elijah Missionary Baptist Church in Albany following a massive fire this past Thursday.

NewsChannel 13 spoke to one long-time churchgoer named Judy Curry who has been going to the church with her sister Alicia Curry Peterson since they were little girls.

Judy said the church was a place of memories and she’s in still at a loss of words over what happened.

“Absolute shock and devastation. It was like our own personal Notre Dame. That’s how it felt to me,” said Judy.  

Ditonno and Sons in charge of the demolition said it is estimated to take about ten days.

Judy has visited the church every day since the fire and said that watching the church be demolished is the most devastating part.

“The layers of brick being torn away. Chiseling away at two rooms that I remember as a child. Being in there, hanging up. That’s where they used to clean the candlesticks,” Judy said.

Judy also said that the church has been the home for so many major events throughout her life.

“It holds where I grew up. It holds where my faith was formed, and where my early education started. It holds memories of funerals, weddings, baptisms, confirmations, everything that is part of my life,” Judy said.