St Brigid's, known as the famine church because it was built in 1847 by Irish immigrants, was closed in 2001 due to structural damage.

Local parishioners set up a restoration fund but it later emerged that the archdiocese of New York planned to demolish the church to make way for luxury apartments.

The archdiocese's decision to sell the church sparked a bitter dispute with residents and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, which took the case to court, arguing that they had raised thousands of dollars for the restoration of St Brigid's.

In its ruling last week, the court said the sale of church property was the business of the Catholic church, not the judicial system.

In a statement, the Committee to Save St Brigid's said the future of St Brigid's now rests "in the court of public opinion".