INDIANAPOLIS – Crews battled a major fire early Tuesday at a historic church that is now a wedding and event venue in downtown Indianapolis.

The fire was reported around 5:30 a.m. Dec. 24 at The Sanctuary on Penn, near the intersection of North Pennsylvania Street and East Walnut Street.

A 13News crew on scene saw flames ripping through the building and smoke billowing into downtown Indianapolis shortly after 6 a.m

By 6:45 a.m., most of the visible fire had been knocked down, but crews were still spraying water on the building.

Indianapolis Fire Department Battalion Chief Rita Reith said no injuries were reported and the building was unoccupied at the time. The emergency services managed to prevent the fire from spreading to surrounding buildings.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

According to its website, The Sanctuary on Penn is a wedding venue housed in a church built in 1875 that features “a traditional and ornate exterior with an ancient Roman ruin design on the interior.” It was home to the city’s first Lutheran congregation.

Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 28, 1978.

Pennsylvania Street is one of several streets closed early Tuesday.

This is a groundbreaking story. Check back for updates.