On Wednesday, July 27, 2011, the construction of the High Street United Methodist Church, Franklin, VA, reached a milestone. The steeple was ready to be raised.
Set on a base 42 feet high and soaring to an overall height over 105 feet in the air, the prefabricated steeple, painstakingly designed and proportioned by Bruce Wardell and manufactured by Campbellsville Industries, is a new landmark for all of Southampton County and the crowning ornament to the new church.
To mark the occasion, the entire congregation gathered at the site to watch the events unfold. Arriving in 3 pieces, the steeple would be slowly and carefully set into place, each tier gently rotating in the air to be precisely positioned like a giant wedding cake.
After the final piece was secured, its new copper spire shining brightly in the sun, Pastor Susan Reeves and architect Bruce Wardell rode the 105 feet up into the air in the crane’s basket to ceremonially bless the steeple’s cross, a symbol of the congregation’s faith, set high above Franklin for all to see.
As the basket slowly lowered to the ground, the gathered crowd was met with a special surprise. From within the steeple, the pealing of the church’s historic bell rang out, a familiar sound now beaconing the congregation to its new home.