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LAKEWOOD -- Lakewood City Council is drafting a new ordinance that would prohibit the Cleveland Catholic Diocese from tearing down St. James Church or destroying its beautiful interior.

For art lovers, St. James is considered an architectural jewel.

Copied from the classic 12th century Monreale Cathedral in Sicily, the church on Detroit Avenue took 10 years to build. The iconography is intricate.

The gold leaf used in the artwork is amazing. The Porta Santa marble used to make the pillars was quarried in Greece 2,000 years ago.

Bishop Richard Lennon has ordered St. James closed by next June as part of a downsizing plan.

"We are not going to let that  happen," said Lakewood City Councilman Tom Bullock. He has teamed up with Mayor Ed FitzGerald to draft legislation to protect St. James.

The proposed ordinance would protect any structure that the city designates a historical or cultural landmark.

"We owe it to the congregation of St. James in recognition of all the good work they do in this community," added Bullock.

"And the building itself is an irreplaceable architectural jewel and a gem. Once you tear it down, you will never get it back."

Chris Trepal, a leader of the group "Friends of St. James" said, "That church was built by the sacrifice of our fathers and grandfathers. It's part of what makes Lakewood-Lakewood. 
It's part of our culture, our history and our sense of place."

The church interior has suffered water damage from a leaky roof. Parish finances are tight. The budget has been running a deficit of about $1,000 per week.

"Save St. James" signs have popped up all across Lakewood.
On Detroit Avenue, baker Laurie Patton paused as she made sugar ornaments for a cake.

"They've got to find a way to save that church", said Patton.

"People have been going there for years. That's what they know and that's what their parents knew. It goes back generations."

There are 4,000 members of St. James parish. 226 families have signed up to become part of the parish in the last 14 months.

"My family went to school and to church at St. James," said Tom Gilbert, who lives a few houses away from the church. "Besides the incredible architecture, if you tear it down, what are you going to put in its place?"

So far, the only official response from the Cleveland Catholic Diocese, "The diocese is taking the matter under advisement to determine how to interact with the city on this matter. "

Experts say the cost to build the church back in 1925 was about $500,000.

The cost to replace the building today would come to about $900 million.

In one of the many beautiful stained glass window panels, the artwork depicts St. James saving his people.

It's clear this parish now plans to save St. James before it is downsized into oblivion.