FESSENDEN – A rural congregation is debating its next steps following a fire that damaged its church building Thursday,

According to Fessenden Fire & Rescue, the department was called shortly before 7:45 p.m. to Concordia Lutheran Church near Hamberg. Fire Chief Aaron Opdahl said assistance was provided by Harvey Fire & Rescue and CenDak Cooperative, which assisted with water supply.

He said the fire did extensive damage to the front of the church building.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Opdahl initially said. However, Jeff Newman, church president, said the cause appeared obvious as a lightning strike.

Newman said the original church building was damaged in a furnace fire in the mid-1950s, prompting the congregation to relocate another church building from Rugby, which is the structure that burned Thursday.

Newman said a meeting will held July 13 to determine whether to restore the church, but he indicated restoration is not likely. The small congregation has been meeting once a month with pulpit services by a lay pastor, he said. The July worship service will be held in the fellowship hall, located on the church property but separate from the church building.