TEMPLE (March 10, 2010)—A handful of members watched Wednesday as a demolition crew began work on razing the 70-year-old sanctuary of Temple’s First Baptist Church, which was gutted by an arson fire on Jan. 19.

Salvageable items including some china and silver that was in the basement of the building were removed on Tuesday and Wednesday workers began knocking down the walls of the building.

Despite the memories the sanctuary holds for many members, the church’s pastor, Martin Knox, said Wednesday the congregation is ready to move on.

"There is sadness,” he said, “but I think people are kind of ready to see the building go, it’s a sad reminder for many."

It will take about two weeks to finish razing the building.

The fire also gutted an adjacent building, which housed offices, adult education classrooms and Fellowship Hall.

The Adult Education Building was damaged by water and smoke and is being dried out and stripped down to the framing.

Most of the building’s contents were destroyed, except for library books.

In the Children’s Building, flooring and ceiling tiles have been removed and salvageable contents removed and cleaned.

One estimate placed total damages at $15 million, but a posting on the church’s Web site says that figure should be disregarded.

“Right now we do not know what the costs will be,” the posting said.

On Jan. 29, authorities confirmed that the fire was the work of an arsonist and said a criminal investigation is underway.

Temple and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigators found evidence in the rubble of the sanctuary that indicated the fire was deliberately set, but Temple Fire Chief Lonzo Wallace did not disclose what was found or where.

Investigators have not linked the Temple fire to a series of arson fires that damaged or destroyed churches in East Texas.

Two men have been arrested in connection with those fires.

A Temple police officer spotted the flames and reported the fire at 5:24 a.m. on Jan. 19, and a second alarm was requested within a few minutes of the arrival of the first Temple Fire and Rescue crews.

A third alarm was requested at 5:40 a.m., calling in all off-duty firefighters.

The roof of the church collapsed around 6:30 a.m. as crews battled the flames from all four sides.

Firewalls, which were installed in 2003, are believed to have helped protect the remainder of the building.