Historic church collapses in New London

The spire atop the former First Congregational Church at 66 Union St. has caved in, leaving a gaping hole in the main structure of the building. The church faces State Street and is a longtime New London landmark whose spire has risen over the city since 1850. It was sold in 2015 to the Engaging Heaven Church. Emergency crews rushed to the scene following the 1:30 p.m. incident and are assessing the damage.

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[merryhunt]

I belonged to an old stone church once, and we were up in the attic, working on the lights when someone noticed that the big beam which ran the length of the church just under the upper ridge failed to go the entire way. It missed the front of the church by about 12 inches. A friendly engineer designed a fitting to connect the components, and a welding shop out in the country fabricated it. The problem was fixed. Something like that could have been wrong here.

Often when a building collapses it's because someone has been removing pillars and other supports. This seems unlikely in such a traditional building.

Somebody needs to go up into the attic of an old church and check things out from time to time.

[abcdef-bqyp]

It seems so much in our USA country no longer runs as efficiently as it once did. We have jobs that do not get done. Children that can't write, or count and do not get taught. DA's that do nothing to prosecute crime. Too much is about politics and not enough about the best people rewarded for doing real productive and needed work. Why is that? Are we pretending work is being done and buildings and airplanes inspected, or are we paying generously and nothing happening? But our leaders keep the politics in play. Our nation is in trouble. These are the kinds of things you saw in the third world.

[bellaloba]

My guess someone wants that lot for a project, yes they dew.

[CurlyPewbes]

They always find the dumbest people to comment on the news.

[darylb]

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction,
    a haughty spirit before a fall.

[perekman]

I though this was London. But the accent on that lady was a bit off.

[pearllemdal]

There is something fushy here.Was this sabotaged for someone

[GreenTT-ll]

Can’t believe this. My hometown is across the bridge from New London. I hope we find out the truth soon. Edit: On second thought, this is New London. I can believe it.

[artstrology]

Good time to rename the Town, .... Its not New and its not If people of the church do not take this as a sign, then there are no signs.

[jsmcguireIII]

My son just came back from Istanbul where he saw Hagia Sophia. That one is still standing after about 1, 500 years.

[MsDormy]

Such a lovely church - what an awful shame. 🥲🙏❤️

[TetoCartridge]

I always thought it looked like the Temple of Time from Legend of Zelda, what a major loss this was for our community

[CCscott]

My eight track player is jammed in my Fairmont. Any suggestions?

[Chrissimpson-ooqx]

What country is did the US or great Britain

[bklynjoe]

It's a sign sheep. Issa tried to tell you about the church/religion.

[RM-thol]

What country did this happen in? I couldnt understand anyone.

[rebegre]

I am praying for them and please keep us posted on how we can help the community, this church is such an important part of that community. ❤

[C--Hercules]

Stop it already. There's no way this happened and nobody ever said .... the church needs maintenance or this might happen. 😮

[xandervk]

This is clearly not a well-managed city, as has been known since the infamous eminent-domain property grab fiasco.

[BobQuigley]

Any way we could invike the Not Me technique and blame China and Putin? Works for every other problem we brought on through our own negligence. Does any city in America have active government inspections of buildings anymore or has hatred and derision of government and government workers undermined even these much needed services?