The speculative plans of the potential buyer, Frank Fodera, call for an apartment building which would still preserve the "historical" exterior--as its lobby. When those plans were revealed in late January, "Save the Chapel" signs went up in church windows and a bevy of petitions, meetings and lawsuits sprung out of the surrounding community.

The congregation has publicly stated its desire to buy the property outright--to the point of making a $2.7 million counteroffer that congregation leaders admit, they likely cannot pay.

To improve their chances, the congregation has gone to court asking a judge to determine what a fair price would be if the church were to be preserved. They argue that it is unfair for a congregation to have to match bids with the developer.

Harvard enters the equation because it legally has the second right of first refusal--meaning that, after the congregation, the University has the first chance to make an offer on the building.

But Harvard's decision is complicated by several obstacles. First, at least the building's exterior must be preserved, making development of the site as classroom space difficult. Second, the congregation still wants to remain in the church--creating further public relations problems for any potential development.

"For the University the value is probably considerably less than the value to a developer," Power said.

Lars-Erik Wiberg, the congregation's president, says that even with Harvard as a landlord, the chapel is committed to staying.