Crews are working to remove valuable items from inside the former St. Andrews church in St. Paul's Como Park neighborhood in the early stages of demolishing the 92-year-old building.
Preservationists tried to stop the process in the courts, but failed.
"Probably all the old doors, windows, trim, railings," said Andy Nesset, maintenance manager for the Twin Cities German Immersion School, which bought the building in 2013, several years after it was decommissioned by the Twin Cities Catholic Archdiocese.
The congregation of St. Andrew's, which dated back to 1895, was merged into nearby church.
Following the sale, the Byzantine-style building with a multi-colored tile roof was converted into a gym and cafeteria, but the school is putting up a new facility on the site to accommodate its growing enrollment.
The vote to tear down the old church came last year after school officials searched for alternatives to preserve the structure.
Preservationists wanted to gain historic designation for the old structure, which was designed by Charles Hausler.
He was St. Paul's first city architect, and other buildings that he put up include homes, libraries, schools, park structures, and commercial buildings.
Among those who tried to save the building is retired priest John Forliti, who lives across the street.
"It's time to move on, let the healing begin," he said. "Our neighborhood is too prescious for anything else.
Forliti's front yard is decorated with a concrete cross that used to sit atop the old church, and was removed shortly after it was sold.