Parishioners of Saint Columba Catholic Church said they are heartsick after their priest agreed to sell some of the windows to a company in Florida. And on Monday, they were hoping the sale wasn't the first sign that their church is surplus.

Church council members said they decided to remove some of the stained glass windows months ago, but that was for the structural integrity of the church. Officials with the diocese said the sale of the windows and the church merger are unrelated. Diocese spokesman Rob Egan said it's a matter of maintenance and money.

"Any thought that this is the picking clean of the building is not a fact. ... The plans are not finished yet," said Egan.

However, watching even the windows go isn't sad only for parishioners, but other people who are adamant about keeping the Cambria City churches intact.

"The churches aren't just the buildings, they're sacred art, windows and other artifacts inside," said Richard Burkett, Executive Director of JAHA.

Some parishioners said they're hoping the windows are not the only pieces of the church that will be sold.

"I think it's a terrible idea. The church should be preserved for history and stay they way it is now," said Karen Mihalik.

Officials with the diocese said they still don't know which of the five Cambria City churches will become the lone site for the new parish, but they are asking all of the parishioners to fill out a questionnaire so they can have some say in the decision.