WINDER — Officials say they suspect lightning sparked a fire that destroyed a 108-year-old church in the northeast Georgia city of Winder.

Fire Chief Matt Whiting says the blaze at the historic Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit flared during a thunderstorm late Thursday.

The Athens Banner-Herald reported fire officials are still investigating.

The church’s brick walls — virtually all the remained — were torn down Friday to prevent them from collapsing on investigators.

The church building stood on the edge of downtown winder since 1904. Pastor Philip Adair mortgaged his home to buy it in 2005.

The pastor says he’s not sure the church can be rebuilt at the site.

He says other churches have offered temporary space for his congregation to hold worship services.