This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
03/02/2020 11:00 PMIt was a crowning moment, complete with cheers from onlookers, as the new steeple took its place atop Northford Congregational Church (NCC) on Feb. 28. The rooftop reunion culminated a 10-year fundraising effort to bring a replica of the original steeple into view after a 114-year hiatus.
High winds held off the work that had been scheduled for Feb. 27, but morning cold didn’t stop the quick work of the construction and crane crews the next day.
The massive crane went to work in front of the church, which overlooks village of Northford from a hillside perch at 4 Old Post Road. Onlookers had a perfect view across the way outside the Edward Smith Library.
Workers first raised and installed NCC’s 2,000-pound brass bell in the new bell tower, followed by the steeple.
NCC pastor Rev. Robin Blundon, who has been leading the church for the past two years, joined in the spontaneous cheer that broke out among onlookers and media when the steeple touched down atop the bell tower at approximately 10:50 a.m.
She said she is thrilled to share in the excitement felt by the members of the church.
“They’ve been working on this for a number of years and they’re just so excited,” said Blundon of NCC’s small congregation. “They’re such a mission oriented-church, and this just brings together the sense of community and connecting with the community. It’s just powerful.”
Blundon said NCC’s bell will ring out in the very near future, using a new type of technology that will allow it to sound without swinging inside the tower. Programming the bell will take place over the next two weeks, she told The Sound on Feb. 28.
“At this time of the year, to probably be able to ring the bell on Easter morning is so exciting,” she said. “I don’t know if that will be the first time, but it certainly will ring on Easter morning.”
Blundon also thanked the greater community for supporting the project effort and invited all to come to NCC and learn more about the church in their community.
“We’re welcoming and we invite people in, and we really want to help and be a part of the community—and they’ve been very supportive,” she said.
The new steeple copies the steeple built in 1846 as part of architect Henry Austin’s design for the brownstone church. After a fire destroyed the original roof, steeple, and church interior in 1906, NCC was rebuilt in 1908.
However, Austin’s steeple design was replaced by a four-cornered topper with an abbreviated steeple cap that remained for decades.
In 2009, restoration fundraising began. In November 2010, the bell and wooden steeple cap were taken down.
In 2013, the Bell Tower Ad Hoc Committee, including several members from outside the church, was formed to continue the push to fund the restoration. Bell Tower Committee Chair and NCC Council past-chair Peter Jenkin headed up that tremendous effort, with support from the church’s small congregation and many others through the years.
The steeple restoration design was crafted pro-bono by Wallingford architect Daniel Webster Lyon, who donated his services and researched Austin’s original church blue prints.