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Ceiling Collapses in New Hampshire Church |
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One church in New Hampshire knows all too well what a property loss can do to a church. Read about the story here.
Ceiling Collapse Helps Church to Count its Blessings
Do you remember the tale of Henny Penny and her dramatic call, “The sky is falling?” Henny Penny embarks on a quest to warn the king of the impending barnyard Armageddon after an acorn falls on her head and she reaches her now famous conclusion. Along the way she persuades some friends to join her. In the end, they are served a la carte to Foxy Loxy and his family.
Over the years the story has come to serve purpose for many people as they twist the tale to suit their needs. For one church in New Hampshire though, Henny Penny’s cry resonated when their sky (church ceiling) actually did fall - in one huge piece! Grateful for a little warning, Henny Penny’s acorn manifested as a bulge in the ceiling and plaster on the floor in the days leading up to the tragedy, the church administrators had shut down the sanctuary prior to the cave in. That warning proved to be a blessing because nobody was in the sanctuary at the time of the collapse and nobody was hurt.
Over the years the 150 year old United Church of Christ Orford, New Hampshire church has shouldered hurricanes, earthquakes, severe winter and ice storms, wildfires, tornadoes, lightning strikes, and more along with the rest of the state. However, a storm with winds peaking at 53 mph on April 16, 2007 proved to be the ultimate culprit. The church suffered enough unseen damage to begin the gradual weakening that ultimately resulted in the ceiling’s collapse less than 30 days later.
On Sunday, May 13, 2007 Reverend Jane Wilson received a phone call from one of the church’s neighbors who had noticed something in the window of the church. A closer look set the woman’s heart racing as she noticed that, indeed, the ceiling had collapsed. In addition to the loss of the ceiling, the church endured damage to the pews, a chandelier, the organ and the piano, the pulpit, flooring, and windows.
As the church counted its blessings: nobody hurt, church building intact, etc., it included: insured with the United Church of Christ Insurance Board. “We feel very blessed, to have had a warning so that nobody was hurt,” said Reverend Jane Wilson. “And knowing we were being taken care of by our own denominational insurance company was very reassuring as well.”
The church will soon be ready to unveil the completed renovations after months of meetings and planning with architects, engineers and designers. Maintaining the historic aesthetics was as important as reinforcing the structural stability and bringing the church current to the 2008 building standards.
The pews have been restored, two have been rebuilt. The ceiling is once again a ceiling. The church, being the people, has remained whole, but now they have a sanctuary that is whole as well. Reverend Wilson has championed this enterprise in true leader style and the church is a better ministry for it. The congregation begins service in the sanctuary this month. “We are anxious and excited to return,” said Reverend Wilson. “This truly is a blessing!”
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