The St. Ann Church complex was sold for $250,000 after having been largely out of use since 2012 due to structural damage issues posing a safety threat, according to the Buffalo News. The property was sold to Buffalo Crescent Holdings, which is affiliated with the Downtown Islamic Center, according to the outlet.

The church’s sale has sparked backlash on social media after posts by a well-known Catholic priest, Father Ronald Vierling, drew attention to the sale. The posts on X had gained nearly 2 million views at the time of writing.

“St. Anne’s Church, Buffalo, NY. Permanently closed. Sold to the Islamic community for $250,000 who are converting the historic church into a mosque,” Vierling wrote.

Some critics took issue with the fact that it was being converted into a mosque, while others were surprised at the low sale price.

“Terrible. I know a dozen Catholics who would have pulled together to buy the building instead of letting it get sold off…” one user wrote on X.

“Selling off Catholic Churches to Islam to convert it into a Mosque borders Blasphemy and Stupidity!” another account wrote.

“Muslims get a church for $250k but I can’t buy a house in a decent neighborhood for less than $500k,” another X user wrote.

The church was built in 1886 by German immigrants. It had fallen into disrepair and become unusable for worshippers in recent years.

Former Bishop Richard J. Malone said in 2013 that the church would be demolished as repairs could cost as much as $12 million.

However, he later said that it would not be demolished and that the new plan was to put the property up for sale instead.

The Downtown Islamic Center said it plans to spend millions of dollars to renovate the church complex.

“We’re looking to put several million dollars into this in the next year, in the church alone,” Talha Bakth, the president of the Downtown Islamic Center, told the Buffalo News.

Buffalo Crescent Holdings is also purchasing a former rectory at the complex that had been converted to apartments in a separate transaction, the Buffalo News reported, citing a diocese statement.

The space will be able to be used for worship within a year or two, Bakth said.

The Downtown Islamic Center says that it aims to provide a space for Muslims in the Buffalo area to attend prayers.

Newsweek reached out to the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo via a contact form on its website and the Downtown Islamic Center via email.