Severe Storms Destroy Norwalk Church Steeple

NORWALK, Ohio — Monday’s powerful storms toppled trees all over Norwalk. In a matter of minutes, more than a dozen homes and structures sustained damage caused by fierce winds.

Late Monday afternoon, parishioners at First Baptist Church on East Main Street noticed the 30-foot steeple was toppled onto the ground.

“My heart sunk. It’s hard to see to that. A steeple of a church points people to God, it’s a reminder of Godly things,” said Reverend Paul Lamb.

The church building is nearly 200 years old. Although roof repairs were already planned for next month, the steeple repairs will be a long and costly process.

“Right now we’re going to clean up the debris and make it safe so nothing else is coming down off of it,” said J & E Roofing owner Joseph Weisenberger.

“The craftsmanship that built that, can’t be redone today. They’d have to put on something modern. They lost the old aesthetics of it, but we’ll rebuild it the best we can,” said Weisenberger.

“We actually have an outdoor worship service this coming Sunday. We’re going to have an outdoor concert on the front lawn. We’ll have it cleaned it up before that, we’re good to go,” said Rev. Lamb.