The Roman Catholic archdiocese is limited in what it can do with St. Brigid's Church, says a city official.

"This building is protected inside and out," said Stuart Lazear, the city's co-ordinator of heritage services. "This really is a rare circumstance and there really isn't a lot of leeway."

Parishioners of the Lowertown landmark learned recently that Archbishop Marcel Gervais intends to sell the historic church and amalgamate the congregation with nearby Notre-Dame Cathedral.

But that might be easier said than done, with a range of municipal and provincial restrictions on what else the building can be used for.

Mr. Lazear said the city recognized the church as a heritage site in 1981 and it falls within the boundaries of the Lowertown West heritage area.

As well, the province and archdiocese entered into a 99-year contract, or easement, in the late 1980s that ensures St. Brigid's is preserved.

"There aren't a lot of heritage properties that have an easement registered against them," Mr. Lazear said.

"By virtue of the protection, both inside and outside, conversion of this building to use, other than religious, is almost impossible," said Mr. Lazear.

Describing the church as a "landmark," Mr. Lazear said St. Brigid's is "important to the community and the neighbourhood."

Sean Fraser, manager of conservation services for the Ontario Heritage Fund, which holds the provincial easement, praised St. Brigid's and said the province is committed to ensuring it is preserved.

"It's a very unusual church. There's nothing quite like it."

Mr. Fraser said the archdiocese entered into the easement in the late 1980s because under the agreement, the province will match every dollar the archdiocese puts into the property for conservation.

In return, the archdiocese agreed to preserve and maintain the building, with the province acting almost as a partner. The province can inspect the property, order repairs and, like the city, must approve any changes.

However, unlike a municipality, which might overrule a heritage designation in favour of development, Mr. Fraser said conservation is the Ontario Heritage Fund's top priority.

"Generally, a building's primary purpose is the most sensitive, and the best use of churches is church business."

While Jay Baltz, chairman of the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee, which would hear any request to change or demolish the building, said proposals would be examined on a case-by-case method, he described St. Brigid's as a "key building in Ottawa."

"I hope if they are going to do anything different with it, they will keep it the way it is. The ideal is to keep it in its current form. Hopefully, any developer who gets it wants the building, and not just the site."

Architect and heritage consultant Barry Padolsky said it will be difficult for a developer to come up with a plan that meets all requirements outlined by the heritage designations. He said St. Brigid's tells the story of the Catholic Church's origins in Ottawa. The way the surrounding neighbourhoods grew up around the building "gives Lowertown that feel that European cities have."

Rev. Pedro Arana, who has presided over St. Brigid's since 1994 but will be reassigned to Assumption Parish in Vanier, was skeptical another denomination would want the church.

"I don't think it will be sold for non-Catholic worship because it is a Catholic church. The easiest solution is for the archbishop to reverse his decision."

Meanwhile, parishioners are dismayed at that decision, with some even questioning their faith because of the way Roman Catholic leaders have treated them.

"We're weary of being battered," said Marilyn Donoghue, chairwoman of the church's parish pastoral council. "It's really leaving some of us questioning our Catholic faith. If this is the kind of talk coming out of our archbishop, we're kind of thunderstruck."

Five years ago, St. Brigid's was in dire financial straits when Archbishop Gervais threatened to close the building. The congregation managed to not only pay the archdiocese $126,000 in back taxes, but cover its $200,000 annual operating budget.

In June 2005, Archbishop Gervais told the congregation the church would remain open, only to announce last week that he had changed his mind because he could not approve additional spending on a crumbling building with a roof that needs replacing.

Mrs. Donoghue said the roof repairs are estimated at $140,000 and the congregation is raising money.

An official in Archbishop Gervais' office said the archbishop was not answering questions about St. Brigid's, but will issue a letter to the congregation Sunday and a news release next week.