Lofty ambitions fulfilled as church steeple makes its return

SHARON — As they say in the movies, it’s back, and better than ever. “It” is the steeple of the Christ Church Episcopal, which was removed in November 2010.At that point, a treeworker had noticed the steeple appeared to be leaning to one side and that the support posts looked like they were rotted. The steeple (and the bell inside the steeple) were removed and then left on the ground beside the church for two years as intensive discussions were held on whether it should be replaced or repaired. By early this year it had been determined that restoration was the way to go, so the bell and steeple were loaded onto a flatbed truck and taken away in February to get some healing ministrations from Heritage Restorations in Providence, R.I. Cathy Casey, who is the clerk of the church, said, “Greg Farmer from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation was called in to consult on the project. After his evaluation, he said the steeple is so historic and unique, it should be restored.”The work was estimated at $200,000 and it was expected to be done by June. As anyone knows who has ever tried to refurbish any kind of historic or antique building, time-consuming surprises are always hidden in the woodwork.The steeple was returned to the church on Thursday, Aug. 1, and it was carefully lifted back into place with help from Sylvester Building Movers of East Falmouth, Mass. A history of the church, written by the late Carter Smith of Sharon, is posted online. It explains the early history of the brick building on Main Street, and its predecessor:“In April 1755, the town of Sharon granted the members of the Church of England permission to erect their first church. The congregation rapidly increased and outgrew the church by 1764, when a new ‘really neat and beautiful’ church was built.“During the Revolutionary War, the building was desecrated when it was turned into a military barracks,and then converted into a stable. In subsequent years, the building fell into disrepair and was finally torn down. This period was also a time of suffering, hardship and personal difficulties for the church members.“Circumstances shifted for the parish in 1809 when the town’s Episcopalians officially organized as a parish and formally established themselves as part of the Protestant Episcopal Church on May 27. With a clergy and vestry of their own, the members began construction on the existing church brick building that was finally consecrated on Nov. 24, 1819.”