Crews hoisted a steeple and 2,500-pound bell from the roof of a Lehighton church on Thursday as part of a renovation.

A steel construction company from Kentucky, with assistance from a local crane operator, dismantled the steeple of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The church is preparing to replace its 50-year-old roof after dealing with leaks. They have been doing temporary fixes and using buckets to catch water. But removing the steeple and replacing the roof beneath it will be a more permanent fix.

”We’re still intact, but we made the decision we can’t live like that forever, we need to replace the steeple and get it fixed,” said Al Sellers, who serves on the church’s property committee.

The church’s sanctuary and the steeple date to the early 1970s. They were built after the original church building was heavily damaged by lightning, and a resulting fire.

Preserving the steeple was important, particularly because it contains a bell which dates to the church’s early days. Marks on the bell stated that it was made in 1910.

“We decided we wanted to preserve that history,” Sellers said.

The church found the contractor who built the steeple 50 years ago. Campbellsville Industries Inc., is still in business, and had the plans for the original.

After removing the steeple and bell, the contractors put them on a trailer, which they will drive back to Kentucky. They will refurbish the steeple and bring it back to Lehighton in the fall.

In the meantime, the church will have the shingles replaced, addressing the water issues.