Valley News – Photos: Steeple repair in Barnard

The First Universalist Church and Society of Barnard was formed in 1802 and built its first meetinghouse two years later in 1804. When that building was converted for use as a school and other purposes, a new meetinghouse was built in 1844. Only four years later, membership declined and services became irregular and only occurred a few months out of the year.

The church hosts a small active congregation, is now open on Sundays in July and August, and has an annual Christmas Eve service. In the building’s 179th year, they have raised $225,000 to restore the building’s leaning steeple, suffering with rotting timbers that had been repaired piecemeal over the years. Another $75,000 is being raised to pay for accessibility improvements and painting. Anne Marie Delaney, the church’s treasurer, said donations are being accepted for a new roof and bell cradle, needs that have become apparent in the course of the other work.

Jan Lewandoski, of Stannard, Vt., is leading a crew of four independent contractors — Mike Cotroneao, of Morrisville, Vt.; Adam King, of Roxbury, Vt.; and Joe Cotter, of Northfield, Vt. — who specialize in restoration of existing old structures. Lewandoski, who started in the field in the late 1970s, said he has worked on roughly 25 steeples, including at the Strafford Town House, and 25 to 30 covered bridges, including the Cornish-Windsor bridge.

On Wednesday, July 19, a crane picked up the spire and bell from the church and set them on the lawn in order to remove and replace rotting timbers that support them. With the ongoing work, Delaney said that a couple planning their wedding at the church in August may have to settle for pictures next to the steeple and bell on the ground.