The church is nearly 200 years old.
WEST ORANGE -- A nearly 200-year-old Main Street church was severely damaged by fire on Friday morning, township officials said.
The fire began just before 5 a.m. at the former St. Mark's Episcopal Church, spokeswoman Susan Anderson said. It took about three hours to get under control, and by 11 a.m. firefighters from seven different towns were still working to put out hot spots, Anderson said.
"It's really a tragic loss for the town," Anderson said. "It's an icon. We're all just devastated."
The Episcopal Diocese of Newark closed the church in 2004, and sold it about a year ago, the diocese said.
Fire rages at historic church St. Mark's Episcopal church in West Orange. Shot this video early today. https://t.co/7itOaQKml8 #WestOrange
-- Dean Chryssovergis (@deanchrys) January 1, 2016
The church is now occupied by the Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal Church, according to News 12.
The loss of the historic church reverberated around the township on New Year's Day.
So sad to see one of the oldest landmarks in #WestOrangeNJ affected by a fire this morning. https://t.co/GP1DeV0CxC
-- Victor Cirilo (@CouncilmnCirilo) January 1, 2016
"We pray for all who have been affected by this tragic incident," Nina Nicholson, an Episcopal church spokeswoman, said in a written statement.
It was one of several Episcopal churches on the market in 2010.
Township historian Joseph Fagan said that the church predates the establishment of West Orange as a town. The steeple was built in 1861, during an addition by Richard Upjohn. Civil War soldiers leaving for battle would have seen the steeple that was destroyed today, Fagan noted.
"It was the oldest landmark in West Orange," Fagan said. "It's just an enormous loss."
The former St. Mark's was listed in 1996 as a historic place by Preservation New Jersey. For most of the 20th century, no major upgrades were made to the Gothic Revival church, according to the organization.
Brian Amaral may be reached at bamaral@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bamaral44. Find NJ.com on Facebook.