WENHAM — There are perhaps no more evocative symbols of small-town New England than the spindly white spires capping some of the oldest churches in America — which makes the steeple of the First Church in Wenham so jarring to the thousands of motorists passing it each day on Route 1A.
"We have a fairly regular parade of people coming to the church asking what's going on," church moderator Peter Twining said.
Since January, the steeple has been resting outside the door of the church wrapped in orange construction fencing. A routine inspection late last year revealed extensive damage to its supporting timbers and two of its four vertical arms. Church members need to raise an estimated $100,000 for repairs, so the steeple was taken down by crane before a strong wind could do the job.
Twining expects it will be a year before work begins.
The Historic District Commission will have to approve any work that alters the appearance of the church or its spire. It has already granted permission for a cell phone tower that will be mounted inside the church tower, although not in the spire itself.
This thoroughly modern addition to the building has its genesis in the church's early days. Twining said there was much debate among parishioners about the height of the spire when the church was being designed, and also how loud the bell should be.
Eventually, the architect was charged with making the spire tall enough to be seen from Beverly.
"It was a marketing tool," Twining said.
Cell phone companies are interested in the church today because they like their towers mounted on a structure that has clear sight lines for three miles, over flat terrain.
The First Church in Wenham was founded in 1639. The building at the intersection of Main and Arbor streets is the fifth iteration of the church, erected in 1843.
Today's problems with the steeple are ample proof everything old is new again. It took four town meetings to finally vote to replace the weakened steeple on the fourth meeting house in 1759. In 1797, that steeple was replaced, only to be blown down into the Hobbs' House yard next door 18 years later.
Coming from Beverly on Route 1A, rounding the bend at Monument Street with the small Town Green on the left, the church is the first view of Wenham most travelers get. It's easy to understand why parishioners are so fond of their spiritual home.
"We view the church as the centerpiece of the town center," Twining said.
Staff writer Steve Landwehr can be reached at 978-338-2660 or by e-mail at slandwehr@salemnews.com.
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
