The collapse happened on the 5500 block of Woodland Avenue in the Kingsessing neighborhood. Surveillance video captured the moment a massive cloud of dust and debris fell into the street, narrowly missing a passerby.
Pastor Ernie Chandler of Greater Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church said he had left the building less than an hour before it came down.
"I had left the church about 45 minutes before it collapsed," Chandler said. "I had dropped off some parishioners, went to the house, wanted to get some rest, phone started blowing up."
Chandler said the church, which has occupied the building for the last 25 years, lost everything in the collapse.
"Pews, speakers, sound system, podium, rugs..." he said.
On Monday, crews started the careful process of dismantling the structure piece by piece.
Nearby resident Tishante Jackson said she heard the collapse while watching the Philadelphia Eagles game at home.
"It's pretty devastating. A little scary. A little unnerving," Jackson said. "It literally happened when we lost the game. It was like, boom!"
Officials said no one was injured, but seven people have been displaced from nearby homes. They're currently being assisted by the Red Cross.
As demolition crews continue working by hand, Chandler said he's relying on faith to get through the loss.
"It'll be bad now but understand there's a favorable forecast. That eventually it works itself out," he said. "Everybody can pray for us. That's really gonna get us through."
Chandler said the demolition is expected to continue for several more days.