PEMBROKE — A small country church in the eastern Maine town of Pembroke has been destroyed by fire.

The 147-year-old First Baptist Church was leveled by fire around noon Monday.

The volunteer fire department is within sight of the church, but Chief James Ramsdell told WQDY-FM the building was engulfed by the time the trucks were rolling.

So far, the cause of the fire is undetermined.

Sgt. Tim York from the state fire marshal’s said the investigation is continuing and that investigators will be returning to the scene on Wednesday with heavy equipment.

The Rev. Gary Kinney, who has headed the church for 27 years, said the building was insured and that he’d like to rebuild.