Church gets new steeple

ONLEY -- Onley Baptist Church has a new steeple after a months-long effort that involved hours of labor by some 20 church members and also the assistance of several area businesses.

The 1907 church building's original steeple had to be replaced because it was in disrepair and was causing leaking problems, Pastor John Burr said.

The old steeple, weighing well over 5,000 pounds, was taken down several months ago and a new, fiberglass steeple, which weighs about one-fifth that, was put up the evening of May 22, with nearly three dozen onlookers viewing the three-hour process.

The church's new steeple is actually a used model and was refurbished by Nathan Thomas of Fiber Tech in Exmore. It is about 30 feet tall, Burr said.

Burr thanked Accomack-Northampton Electric Cooperative for its help during the processes of taking down the old steeple and installing the new one, which involved turning off electricity running through nearby wires. He also thanked those whose electric service was affected for their understanding.

The work to raise the new steeple was done after 5 p.m. to avoid interrupting power to nearby business T&W Block, Inc.

"They've really been gracious and generous to help," Burr said of ANEC personnel.

Daniel Pruitt of DDP Construction Inc. and George Colonna of Colonna Industries headed up the unusual construction project. Both are members of Onley Baptist Church.

"It's all been done debt-free, praise God," Burr said.

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Church gets new steeple