The Work Continues!
Preservation and renovation efforts commenced in May 2022, including upgraded flooring in Hadley Hall, the kitchens, bathrooms, and foyer, as well as scraping and painting the exterior of the building. In the summer of 2023, extensive restoration work on the steeple was completed. In June of 2024, the bell-ringing apparatus was repaired, and in January 2025 work was completed in Hadley Hall to add insulation to the ceiling space and improve air-sealing, which will dramatically improve the efficiency of our mechanical and electrical systems, and make the space more comfortable for our congregation and the 200+ community members who use this space each week. These improvements are expected to reduce our annual energy costs for oil and electricity, as well.
THANK YOU to the many generous donors who have helped us raise over $240,000
through pledges, contributions and grants!
Projects Completed so Far:
• Repaired bell-ringing apparatus
• Improved Hadley Hall insulation and air-sealing
• Replaced Sanctuary side door
• Repair and restoration of steeple
• Scraping and painting of the sanctuary's exterior
• Removal and resurfacing of majority of Hadley Hall flooring
• New carpet in foyer and hallway outside bathrooms
• New floors in women’s and kid’s bathrooms
• New floor in kitchen
Continued funding will help complete:
• Restoration of 18 sanctuary windows to address
damaged or missing glazing, rot, weakened joints, cracked panes, and inability
to close properly.
• Repair of front entry doors.
Grants
· In January 2025, we received a $4,500 grant from New Hampshire Interfaith Power and Light—specifically, the Katy Gerke Memorial Fund, which was established to honor the memory of Dr. Katy Gerke and to help Christian congregations in New Hampshire to lower their church buildings’ carbon footprint.
· In December 2024, we received a $20,000 matching grant from New Hampshire's LCHIP (Land and Community Heritage Investment Program) to help fund the restoration of the 18 original sanctuary windows. Since 2001, LCHIP has invested $62 million through 589 Grants, impacting 204 New Hampshire communities, helping to rehabilitate 184 historic structures and conserve 245,715 acres of land.
· In January 2024 we received a $10,000 matching grant from the Methuen Festival of Trees, to help fund the steeple repair. Since 1994, this organization has contributed to historic preservation projects in 25 communities throughout the Merrimack Valley.
· In November 2023, the Salem Rotary Club donated $2,900 towards the Capital Campaign.
A Picture Gallery of Progress!
Nick from The Verdin Company, shown here with Erin and Chris McCune.
We stopped ringing our bell 1,200 lb. bell four years ago
out of safety concerns when we learned that repairs were needed. The bell
itself was in good condition; however, the bell was loose in the yoke,
most likely due to a worn or corroded head bolt. This was an imminent
risk, as there was a potential for the bolt to snap, causing the bell to drop.
Work was completed in June, 2024 to replace the bolt and the A-frame stand,
including new sealed bearings that allowed for smoother swinging of the
bell, along with a new headpiece/clapper/spring assembly. The work was
performed by The Verdin Company of Cincinnati, world-renowned manufacturer
and repairer of cast bronze bells.
Our 1,200 lb. bronze bell was cast in 1876 by the Meneely & Kimberly Bell Foundry in Troy, New York. Installed in our belfry on December 23, 1955, it was first rung on Christmas Day and replaced the original bell, which had cracked in 1918 when rung to celebrate the end of WWI.
The steeple work was completed by Robert Morgan Steeple and Building Restoration of Errol, NH. After removing rotted siding and plywood from the spire down to the base, they wrapped the spire in waterproof underlayment, installed new plywood and cedar corner-boards and clapboards, scraped the interior and exterior of the bell tower, and painted all surfaces. Lastly, the crew installed galvanized screen to the open arches of the bell tower to keep out birds and applied 23-carat gold leaf to the weathervane.
The steeple work was featured on the front page of the June 29, 2023 Union Leader and appeared on WMUR's Channel 9 news on
June 8:
Steeplejacks using traditional method to repair Hampstead Congregational Church
In January 2024 we received a $10,000 matching grant from the Methuen Festival of Trees, to help fund the steeple repair. Since 1994, this organization has contributed to historic preservation projects in 25 communities throughout the Merrimack Valley.
After extensive scraping, the exterior of the sanctuary received two coats of fresh paint.
Using state-of-the-art diamond grinders, workers ground down the top layer of Hadley Hall’s concrete floor, leaving a highly-polished, easy-to-maintain surface.
We have new carpet in the foyer and hallway, as well as beautiful new floors in the kitchen and women's and kid's bathrooms!
