Nicholasville, Ky. — After 50 years of standing tall, the iconic steeple of Edgewood Baptist Church was removed from its roof on Friday afternoon due to severe winds caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene. The area experienced gusts reaching up to 60 mph.
“It was loud; actually, we thought it was thunder,” recalled Barbara Miller, a church member present during the incident. Thanks to the quick actions of the wind, the steeple was safely displaced, landing upright on the church lawn, situated between the prayer garden and the sanctuary.
Pastor Steve Gray expressed relief that no injuries occurred as a result of the steeple’s detachment. “By the grace of God, it kind of lifted up and sat down right on the lawn of the church,” he stated. While some water damage was reported inside the church, the pastor commended the congregation for their swift response. “This is a really resilient people; Jessamine County people are strong and willing to roll up their sleeves and go to work,” Gray added.
In an interesting twist, Gray noted that a prayer group named “Under the Steeple” was initiated just three weeks prior to the incident. He reassured the community that their mission will continue unabated. “We love the steeple and the symbol it represents; it points people to Jesus, and we’re going to keep doing that,” he affirmed.
Despite the loss of the steeple, Edgewood Baptist Church will proceed with its Sunday services as planned. The congregation remains steadfast in its commitment to recovery and resilience in the face of adversity.
