By Kaitlyn Eichelberger
NEWBURG — Stretching 65 feet from the ground, the historical bell tower that sits atop Solid Rock Church in Newburg needs some TLC, and the congregation is seeking assistance from the community to reconstruct that beloved structure.
The bell tower shows signs of deterioration, including falling shingles and a basketball-sized hole in the roof. The bell tower is 65 feet tall. Although this height makes the tower a sight to behold, it also means some contractors have declined the job.
Pastor Delbert Lyons spoke with a few contractors interested in working on the church. Upon seeing the tower, though, they were hesitant.
“When they saw the bell tower, they got in their cars and left,” said Lyons.
The church has found a contractor willing to repair the tower, one who regularly works on projects of this magnitude. His price is $12,000 and the church is fundraising in hopes of beginning this project.
Already halfway to their goal thanks to donations from congregation members, the community and other churches, they’re hopeful these acts of kindness continue.
Every bit helps, Lyons said.
Lyons purchased the building in 2004. A multitude of repairs have been completed since then.
In the first year, the church was rewired, had new concrete poured for the porch and gained restroom. In the second year, gravel was laid and pipes were installed to prevent leaking into the basement. Other repairs include new siding and replacing the stained glass windows, front doors and the heating system.
Lyons and other church members purchased materials and did these renovations themselves.
“Two or three of us from the church, we just got together every day,” said Lyons. “We worked a lot of days when we first started, just doing electrical work.”
The reason for these repairs is not only to uphold the integrity of the church, but to maintain the features most significant to the community.
Heating the building would be easier if they dropped the 17-foot ceiling, said Lyons. Yet, dropping the ceiling would ruin the beautiful woodwork and the stained glass windows. When the congregation sings, it carries beautifully. Nobody wants to change that.
The same applies to the bell tower. Although it’s been difficult to find someone willing to repair it and to gather the funds, it’s something important to Newburg’s community.
“We talked about knocking the bell tower off, but nobody wants that,” said Lyons. “The mayor said, ‘No way, that makes the looks.’ When you come across the railroad tracks and look up, [you see it.]”
The bell tower’s reconstruction isn’t the end of the church’s preservation efforts. In the future, Lyons said he’d like to update the interior.
They’ve completed a lot of repairs, said Lyons, but it still needs a lot of work.
In a building nearly 150 years old, this isn’t a surprise. The building dates back to 1870, with construction officially starting in 1875 and completed in 1883. At the time, Newburg was a bustling railroad town. The town housed a section of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O), which traveled through 13 states. The bell tower was added later.
Originally, Lyons wasn’t interested in buying a church. He had previously served as a pastor of the Baptist church in Gladesville and the Pleasant Valley Church in Fellowsville, for 18 and 1.5 years, respectively.
His friends encouraged him to start his own church so they could attend his services, said Lyons. After visiting the building, he knew it would be a large undertaking but it caught his eye nonetheless.
Lyons decided if they could reach $1,000, they would purchase the building. Six members contributed and they surpassed their goal with $1,700.
“The Lord wanted us to start it, so we started the church,” said Lyons.
Currently, Lyons has no doubt a similar blessing will occur.
“So far, anytime we’ve had something that happens, the Lord’s really helped provide for us,” said Lyons. “We don’t have a big group and we don’t have a big income, yet God provides what we need.”
“He wants this building to stay here.”
Donations to the Solid Rock Church’s Bell Tower can be mailed to The Solid Rock Church, 10518 S. Preston Highway, Tunnelton, WV 26444.
The Solid Rock Church is on Morgantown Avenue in Newburg.
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