A New Steeple for N.J.'s Oldest English-Speaking Church

By Mariam Jukaku
 
Newark, N.J., August 7, 2008 - The Star-Ledger - New Jersey's oldest English-speaking church got a massive face-lift this morning, with the raising of a new 27-ton steeple.

Dozens of congregants, politicians and community members gathered this morning on the historic church grounds of Old First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth to watch the first piece of the white aluminum steeple rise to the top of the church's bell-tower.

"I don't know why, but I feel so proud at this moment," said Borys Abulevsko, a long-time member of the 344-year-old church, which sits next to the Union County Courthouse on Broad Street.

Joe Epstein/The Star-LedgerA worker hold a guide rope attached to the lower section of the new 125-foot-tall steeple as it is raised to the roof of the Old First Presbyterian Church.

Founded by New England Puritans from Long Island in 1644, the church lost its last steeple and much of the rest of it's building in a fire in 1946. The church was rebuilt, but the dwindling congregation didn't have enough money to resurrect the steeple.
 
The new steeple is modeled after a colonial-era spire that was erected in 1795. Three other three pieces, including a weather vane, will be lifted later today or Friday morning, bringing the structure's total height to 120 feet.

The steeple is just one part of a $9 million renovation to the church's main building, centuries-old cemetery and parish house. More than $5 million of that comes from the Harold B. and Dorothy A. Snyder Foundation, though donors include the Union County Historic Preservation Trust Fund and other historic societies.

After the formal ceremony this morning, the steeple was lowered again to make adjustments. Passers-by may see the tower go up and down several times during the day until workers get the fit just right.

Michael Bradley, a church member who's been heavily involved with the project, said he'll be there to babysit the steeple until the last piece goes up.

"It's too exciting to walk away from," Bradley said. "The steeple will tell (the community), 'Yes, we're alive and well and ready to go for another 300 years.'"