By TIM KELLY
Something old is being restored to its former glory at the historic First Presbyterian Church, located at the corner of 7th Street and Wesley Avenue.
The 106-year-old steeple, already sliced in half by a lightning bolt in 1925 and subject to the ravages of time and the winds from the Atlantic Ocean, is undergoing a significant restoration project.
The hope, First Presbyterian Church Senior Pastor John S. Sheldon says, is for it to be there for perhaps the next 106 years of service to its members, the community, summer visitors or anyone else who stops by.
The church organization dates back to 1896, and is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. These dates add historical context to the practical need for the project. Nothing drove that point home more than the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Ocean City is a town with many churches, and just like all the others, we have new challenges ahead,” said Rev. Sheldon, who has overseen the church for 30 years.
Nevertheless, First Presbyterian continues to look forward and aims for growth.
“We are a loving church community, which is open to all,” Rev. Sheldon said, while allowing that COVID put the need for adaptation to the test.
“We are livestreaming our services and (communicating) on our website,” he said. “Since returning to in-person services last July, we’ve seen things beginning to come back.”
This is similar to the story of the steeple, which isn’t exactly a steeple anymore and is known now as the North Tower and is part of the old sanctuary.
The structure has come to symbolize the church organization’s strength, resiliency and determination to keep going.
The picture wasn’t so clear during the early morning hours of May 24, 1925.
“LIGHTNING BOLT STRIKES CHURCH, AND ROCKS CITY,” declared the headline in one of the local newspapers.
According to the article, the bolt “shattered” the top of the spire, which at the time was one of the tallest structures in the city. The blast also broke numerous windows in homes nearby and a fire broke out – attributed to telephone wires – then still a new-fangled invention.
The blaze unfortunately spread to the home next door of then-Pastor Charles Voegelin, which he reportedly extinguished using a garden hose.
“The bolt struck the southeast corner of the spire, tearing away roofing. The four stone columns shattered and the street was strewn with boards and other debris,” the article stated.
Miraculously, the article made no mention of deaths or serious injuries.
In true First Presbyterian fashion, the damage to the physical building couldn’t stop the church services later that morning. No electricity was available, so a piano replaced the usual organ music at the morning service.
The evening service was cancelled. Instead, the Church Trustees met and decided to begin repair work on the building “as soon as possible.”
Church records and articles show this was accomplished in a few short years at a cost reported to be in excess of $6,000, or $161,000 in today’s dollars, with the majority raised by the congregants.
At that time, the spire was removed. The tower was shortened and filled in with matching stone and the church profile was forever changed.
The current renovation job is expected to be completed in May at a cost of $53,000. Once again, the congregants came through for their church.
The (bulk of the price tag) has been reached “through the generous sacrificial giving of our church members,” Rev. Sheldon said.
Overseeing the restoration project are Kim Murphy, director of Music and Family Ministries, and longtime church member Allan Matthews. The contractor for the job is Culbertson Restoration, of Aston, Pa.
These days, First Presbyterian is back to a busy Sunday schedule and Rev. Sheldon is looking forward to a return to the many events it hosted prior to the pandemic.
Sunday School Praise and Workshop is at 8:45 a.m., followed by Sunday School for all ages and Morning Worship at 10:30 a.m.
To learn more about the church, its mission and other information, visit its website at www.firstpresocnj.net.
