From the rubble, a new church will rise. Active members of the United Congregational Church of Conway in Pumpkin Hollow have approved designs for a new chapel on Whately Road. They hope to sink shovels in the ground by next spring’s thaw.
The vote marks the end of a years-long recovery process that began after a tornado swept through the Conway church’s quiet neighborhood in 2017.
Following the storm, structural engineers determined that wind had twisted the building, knocking down the bell from its steeple-top fixture and damaging its structure beyond repair. A year later in November of 2018, the congregation’s 28 members voted to demolish the building because it wasn’t safe to leave standing. From insurance money, the church repaid the town $100,000 in Community Preservation Act local tax money, which taxpayers had previously given for renovations.
No doubt, their decision to rebuild was reached after much deliberation and with emotion. The former chapel, an iconic white colonial-era structure, watched over the town since 1850. Part of what makes our region so beautiful is its many beautifully preserved colonial-style buildings.
It’s always unfortunate to see one destroyed.
At the same time, the Rev. Candice Ashenden, the church’s pastor, said, “The congregation is very excited to be ready to move forward with this and we’re happy that we have finally reached a consensus on what comes next.”
We’re happy, too.
When the tornado struck Pumpkin Hollow two years ago, time seemed to stop — roads were closed; debris was strewn everywhere; dozens of electrical trucks lined the center of town; lawmakers paraded through the streets, showing face; homeowners surveyed the wreckage, shocked. The storm impacted many aspects of Conway’s tight-knit community, from maple sugaring operations to businesses to the town’s only church, the United Congregational Church of Conway. With the old meeting place damaged, its congregation began meeting at the Conway Grammar School after the tornado.
The new building will be constructed where the old one stood, but with a smaller footprint.
According to Ashenden, construction costs will be paid for with $1 million of the church’s remaining insurance money, which also covered demolition. Its design will be simple, complementing the Pumpkin Hollow community with a New England architectural style. There will be a public access space, a chapel space that seats 40 people, and a residential-size kitchen. The new chapel’s centerpiece will be a reminder of what happened: three stained glass windows that were taken from the old building before it was destroyed.
Since the tornado, life has more or less moved on. Roadways were cleared and reopened. Jan and John Maggs, whose historic Whately Road barn was flattened during the storm, rebuilt an English three-bay, late-1700s-style barn on the old structure’s foundation. Throughout the neighborhood, homeowners repaired and rebuilt their homes. Elsewhere, farmers recouped their losses and businesses rebounded. Through it all, the church’s historic white steeple has noticeably been missing; its return will be a welcome sight.
The completion of this new structure will mark the end of an era — and the beginning of a new one.