Authorities are investigating why the wall of a Frankford church collapsed Tuesday afternoon leaving a gaping hole in the building.
Police say that the side of the Central United Methodist Church at Griscom and Orthodox Streets collapsed overnight.
The church, which is owned by the Frankford Group Ministries, was built in 1875.
The building was home to a thriving congregation for years but had held church services in the last few years. Since then it was used mostly for meetings and community outreach.
"This church has been in the community for a long time helping people all around the place... with clothes, food," said neighbor Martha Oyola.
"It's like my heart's crushed right now. Oyola said.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse but it's possible that recent rainy weather played a role.
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