A Texas parish was planning to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the completion of their church building this year, but are now mourning the loss of the building after a devastating fire last week.

Fire broke out at the Church of the Visitation in Westphalia, TX, on Monday, July 29, 2019.

TV station KWTX says the church had a congregation of hundreds and was a Central Texas landmark.

“(It’s) extremely difficult and painful to be here,” Joe Vásquez, bishop of the Austin Diocese, told the station.

“I’m very deeply affected by this and I know the people here are also heartbroken,” he says.

The church was well-known for its large twin towers which could be seen for miles. They were the largest wooden structures west of the Mississippi River according to KWTX.

“I am saddened for the people of Westphalia who have suffered this tremendous loss,” Vásquez says in an online post.

“I am grateful for all the firefighters and departments that responded to the fire. Please join me in keeping the people of this historic parish in your prayers today as they try to piece together this tragedy.”

The building had nearly two dozen stained glass windows that were made in Germany and shipped to Central Texas.

The church has been considered a Texas Historical Marker since 1978 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Westphalia is a small farming community about 120 kilometres north of Austin.