Brunswick church begins fundraising to restore historic bell tower

Clara Niel, The Frederick News-Post, Md.
Updated ·6 min read

Nov. 24—In the Brunswick skyline, the bell tower of the First Baptist Church along East A Street is an iconic outline. But over a period of 114 years, the bell tower has sustained damage from the elements, particularly from rain and water. The damage has raised structural concerns about the bell tower, the Rev. Justin Wyckoff, the church's family pastor, said. So, the church's congregation decided to begin a campaign to raise money to restore the bell tower. "For a lot of people in this town, the bell tower, it is Brunswick. It's just so intertwined with Brunswick that the bell tower is Brunswick. When they see that bell tower, it's the highest point in our skyline. It calls them home," Wyckoff said. The campaign, dubbed Capture the Vision, aims to raise $250,000 in three years in the first phase to preserve the bell tower. A second phase will also seek $250,000 to fund other efforts to restore the church. Wyckoff said people have promised more than $40,000 to the restoration effort. The Rev. Phil Graves, the senior pastor, said the church has received about $7,000 of that promised money. Wyckoff hopes the church will receive more money to fund the project through grants and is looking for a grant writer. Roughly two-thirds of the bell tower needs to be addressed, due to water damage, Wyckoff said. The bell tower is shaped in a way that allows it to collect water. There used to be people who would seal off the bell tower to prevent water from settling in and seeping through the bell tower, but that hasn't happened in decades, he said. Water has gotten into the mortar of the tower itself and into the floor, through to the ceiling and walls of the room below it, which used to be a classroom. Blue paint is peeling off the walls and ceiling. The congregation contemplated building a whole new church, but congregants decided the current building was too important historically to abandon. The church is not only prominent and a landmark in the city, but many people have personal connections to it. "So many people that we meet in the community [say], 'Oh, my parents grew up at that church, I got married at that church. ... My grandfather helped build that church.' There's just so many people in the community who have some sort of tie to the church," Graves said. One person with deep roots in the church is JoEllen Fisher, a member for more than 60 years. Her great-grandparents were charter members when the church was founded. She was brought up in the church, as were her children, she said. Her family history is intertwined with the building. "That's my church, that will always be my church. For other people, it's probably other things, but when I walk into that church, that's home," she said. She, Wyckoff and Graves are optimistic about the fundraising effort. Graves is looking forward to more space for ministry in the building. Wyckoff and Fisher mentioned that the congregation is growing, with more youths joining the church. "I think this is definitely God led. I think there are still big things for this church," Fisher said.

In the Brunswick skyline, the bell tower of the First Baptist Church along East A Street is an iconic outline.

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Follow Clara Niel on Twitter: @clarasniel

Follow Clara Niel on Twitter: @clarasniel