Historic Portland church gets its steeple and bell back

PORTLAND – For Rev. Marilyn Danielson, the sight of the bell being hoisted back atop her church Tuesday morning was nothing short of a miracle.

"A year ago, we had no idea that this would ever happen,' said Danielson, pastor of First Congregational Church of Portland. "But we have had amazing support from the community."

The 108-year-old bell was taken down a year ago. Church officials had the steeple removed in September 2013 because it was in danger of collapsing and church members have been raising money to pay for the work.

The final cost to replacing the steeple and bell is expected to hit $144,000. So far, the church, with 193 members, has raised $108,000.

"This has been a long process," said Tom Huggler, chairperson of the church's board of trustees. "I think it is amazing to be able to put the bell back up 13 months after we took it down."

The bell has been silent for much longer. Several months before it was taken down, church officials decided to stop ringing the nearly 500-pound bell to prevent further damage to the steeple.

Church officials believe the steeple was constructed in 1906, the same year the bell was hung.

Raising money was not the church's only problem. The replacement had to replicate Greek Revival architecture of the original because the church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and needs to meet historical standards.

Danielson said the church will hold a dedication ceremony at 3 p.m. Nov. 9. It will be open to the public, Danielson said, "because the entire community provided support for this project."