The congregation of a historic Mercer County church about to be torn down says it's bewildered efforts to save the church are being ignored.

Church leaders say the First Presbyterian Church of Ewing will be demolished because it would cost more than $1 million to fix structural problems.

Congregants raised about $250,000 in six months to pay for repairs, but the church's governing board rejected a request for more time to raise money. It then rejected an offer from Preservation New Jersey to take over the church, repair it and let the congregation use it free of charge. Both decisions were made behind closed doors.

"We thought it was manna from heaven," says churchgoer Bob Kull. "I just don't understand, and the community doesn't understand, why that offer was rejected."