http://www.wcax.com/story/15061584/springfield-church-to-replace-steeple-fixture
Springfield church to replace steeple fixture
Springfield, Vermont - July 11, 2011
A historic cross that sits atop the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Springfield was removed Monday because it had fallen into disrepair. But, as the century-old symbol is laid to rest, the church is actually going through a rebirth.
High atop the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Springfield, a piece of history is being removed for good. The church's cross, which was mounted in 191, is being detached from its steeple.
"About a year and a half ago we had a parishioner pass away -- Helen Latelle -- and she was a very devout parishioner and her family left a fair size amount of money. We had a parish meeting to decide what to do with it and a motion was made that everyone thought it would be a good thing to have the cross up top re-fixed so it would look good for years to come," said Vic Baskevich with Holy Trinity Orthodox Church.
So church-goers called in Old Time Restorations out of Massachusetts and after working for most of Monday morning to remove the symbol, it slowly began making the trip back to the ground. "We are building an exact replica out of 16-ounce lead-coated copper and then we are going to put two coats of zinc chromate paint and then we are going to put 23 karat gold leaf," said the company's Steven Curtis.
The house of worship is the first Russian Orthodox Church in the state-- built in the early 1900's. The steeple and cross were add shortly after.
"People now a days build a steel corrugated church with blocks. And I want to show our children's children what our country was made of. The craftsmanship and the architecture of different sections of Vermont and New England," Curtis said.
Faithful parishioners gathered on the church's lawn to take a closer look at the symbol they have only seen from a distance. Now a new cross in its original form will stand over this community once again.
"It is your legacy that you are passing on to those in the future. Like I said, 100 years ago, someone put that cross up there thinking that this church would be here in 100 years," Baskevich said.
Parishioners say that by the time the steeple turns 100 years old this October, a new cross will be placed on its perch, giving new life to this church for at least another 100 years.
Adam Sullivan - WCAX News
Springfield, Vermont - July 11, 2011
A historic cross that sits atop the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Springfield was removed Monday because it had fallen into disrepair. But, as the century-old symbol is laid to rest, the church is actually going through a rebirth.
High atop the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Springfield, a piece of history is being removed for good. The church's cross, which was mounted in 191, is being detached from its steeple.
"About a year and a half ago we had a parishioner pass away -- Helen Latelle -- and she was a very devout parishioner and her family left a fair size amount of money. We had a parish meeting to decide what to do with it and a motion was made that everyone thought it would be a good thing to have the cross up top re-fixed so it would look good for years to come," said Vic Baskevich with Holy Trinity Orthodox Church.
So church-goers called in Old Time Restorations out of Massachusetts and after working for most of Monday morning to remove the symbol, it slowly began making the trip back to the ground. "We are building an exact replica out of 16-ounce lead-coated copper and then we are going to put two coats of zinc chromate paint and then we are going to put 23 karat gold leaf," said the company's Steven Curtis.
The house of worship is the first Russian Orthodox Church in the state-- built in the early 1900's. The steeple and cross were add shortly after.
"People now a days build a steel corrugated church with blocks. And I want to show our children's children what our country was made of. The craftsmanship and the architecture of different sections of Vermont and New England," Curtis said.
Faithful parishioners gathered on the church's lawn to take a closer look at the symbol they have only seen from a distance. Now a new cross in its original form will stand over this community once again.
"It is your legacy that you are passing on to those in the future. Like I said, 100 years ago, someone put that cross up there thinking that this church would be here in 100 years," Baskevich said.
Parishioners say that by the time the steeple turns 100 years old this October, a new cross will be placed on its perch, giving new life to this church for at least another 100 years.
Adam Sullivan - WCAX News
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