To the New London community, the height of the First Congregational Church鈥檚 Union Street steeple was a testament to the city鈥檚 resilience and storied past.
Formed in New London in the 1600s, the church and state were not separated in New England and every resident鈥檚 taxes would go toward the church.
鈥淵ou could go to another church, but you were [still] supporting the Congregational Church. It was that dominant. It was that powerful,鈥� said Tom Couser, the board president of New London Landmarks.
In 1851, the First Congregational Church erected its Union Street location. Its towering size signified the city鈥檚 growing wealth as a whaling capital. In its heyday, the congregation鈥檚 Sunday afternoon crowd would fill the mansion-lined streets of State Street.
The church also held civic importance. Its steeple鈥檚 bell was used to call people to meetings and sound fire alarms.
Today, that steeple no longer mantels the New London skyline. On Jan. 25, the structure collapsed, rendering it permanently impaired. The masonry ruins remain on the Union Street property more than a month later.
鈥淚t was a significant representation of the history of our city. The First Congregation[al], as it became more populous and affluent鈥uilt that magnificent structure,鈥� said Michael Passero, mayor of New London. 鈥淲e've lost a significant piece of our history with the collapse of the church.鈥�
The cause of the collapse is still unknown. However, warnings of the steeple鈥檚 structural integrity were sounded by Lepold Eidlitz, the church鈥檚 architect, initially made by David Collins, a columnist for The Day.
鈥淗e wrote a letter 鈥� to the to the congregation, and said, 鈥楲ook, your contractor鈥檚 not doing this right,鈥欌�� Couser said.
As time progressed, the church鈥檚 congregation gradually decreased. Its size was too large for its dwindling attendance and maintenance of the building became a greater task. In 2015, First Congregational sold the building to Enaging Heaven Ministries for $250,000, according to city officials.
The mortgage, privately held by First Congregational, required Engaging Heavens to spend at least $25,000 a year on maintenance and hold proof of insurance, .
However, the city placed a $240,000 lien on the church, which totaled the cost of cleaning up the site. In the wake of the collapse, hundreds of city officials worked overtime to ensure the grounds were safe for demolition.
As of March 1, Passero said the church has not communicated how it plans to pay back the lien. The church鈥檚 limited communication has raised city-wide concerns that Engaging Heavens Ministries did not hold adequate insurance nor does First Congregational maintain mortgage security.
Neither First Congregational nor Engaging Heaven Ministries responded to interview requests made by 黑料新闻 Radio.
鈥淭here's going to be a point where they're going to have to address this financial issue 鈥� There are things in place that will protect the city if that financial issue is not resolved,鈥� said Felix Reyes, director of economic development and planning for the city of New London.
Despite what鈥檚 lost, Passero believes that New London is in an upward direction. Recent investments from High Tide Capital have revitalized parts of the city鈥檚 downtown. Newly built luxury apartments are beginning to permeate throughout the city, thanks to the influx of jobs from Electric Boat.
鈥淚t's a memory, but it'll be a memory that's preserved. And hopefully, that parcel right in the heart of our downtown will be redeveloped into something that's an honor to that location,鈥� Passero said. 鈥淭here has not in my lifetime been so much interest by developers and investors and our historic structures downtown.鈥�
