What we have found is kind of what we knew all along " generosity runs deep in this community. Chris McCreight
Paul Hederstrom of the Pilgrim Christian Church capital improvement committee, recently paraphrased a child’s rhyme to illustrate the congregation’s drive to restore its missing steeple.
“We have the church…but we need the steeple…so when we open the doors…we’ll see all the people,” he said when asked about the status of the huge project, started about two years ago.
The history of the missing steeple goes back nearly 10 years, before Rev. Chris McCreight came to the local Disciples of Christ congregation.
Historically, the church, built in 1876, had a bell tower, carillon and steeple, but decades of harsh weather degraded the bell tower and made it unsafe, he said.
So it was taken down, brickwork from the bell tower was removed and a temporary cap was built on the remaining structure nearly a decade ago, McCreight said.
“Two years ago, we began to have a conversation about this project. We invited consultants from the church extension fund in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to come help us assess the need and create the process to move forward about a year and a half ago,” he said.
Serious fundraising began early this year, and as soon as the project became a likelihood, donations started coming in.
“Friends and members of the church had given money to the church for this particular purpose, so we had a generous amount (approximately $20,000) to help us begin our work,” McCreight said.
They hired architect Hank Pentilla and an engineering firm. With an estimate of $240,000, the committee spread the word and was gratified at the response.
“What we have found is kind of what we knew all along — generosity runs deep in this community. Friends and members of the congregation gave as they could to support this ministry,” he said.
Pilgrim’s “sales reps” have been incredibly excited about the project and their efforts to communicate their enthusiasm were met with heartfelt and generous responses.
“To date, I believe that we have received nearly $200,000 of our goal of $240,000. We are so grateful,” McCreight said.
With the project within arm’s reach, he shared his own excitement.
“It will be amazing to have a bell tower, carillon and steeple on the square,” McCreight said. “Pilgrim Christian Church has blessed many people in its life of service and ministry. I think some people may even have given because of the pancake breakfasts here during the maple festival. It’s a testament to the storied history of this congregation.”
As with most things religious, the historic symbolism and image of a resurrected steeple carry a lot of weight for his congregation.
“They can remember the bell ringing at the beginning of worship. They can remember seeing the steeple and knowing that they are home. For many, it will be the rightful replacement and restoration of memory. That is huge,” the reverend said, adding the carillon once again will chime the time, announce weddings, and play hymns and Bach’s Mass in B Minor.
“It has become quite clear that Chardon is a community of grace, hope and love, and the steeple will be a fitting addition to the heart of this community,”he said.
With just a few thousand dollars more to raise, Pilgrim Christian Church hopes to start the project in the fall, McCreight said.
Hederstrom said having the steeple rebuilt will cement the church’s ties to the community.
“The singularity of purpose was to have the inviting symbol of a church steeple on Chardon Square visible from the surrounding countryside along with the mellow sound of a carillon serenading visitors,” he said. “Pilgrim sees itself as integral to the local community and the steeple ties the knot.”
A few members of the congregation formed a team to discuss alternatives, Hederstrom said.
“After investigating three options, the project was then on autopilot, with significant participation by the entire congregation,” he said.
Fundraising was a focus for everyone and ideas included a craft fair, chili dinner, sale of recordings of the church’s dulcimer talent and a steeple chase bike ride came flooding in, Hederstrom said. Sale of Chardon coffee mugs and an auction of a stain glass church window from a previous church building on the square all contributed to meeting the final bid estimate.
The committee agreed no contract should be signed until 80 percent of the needed funds had been raised. That threshold was met by the end of May, he said.
“The team and congregation are looking faithfully toward completing the fundraising, certainly by the end of the project,” Hederstrom said.
