First Christian Church’s 185-foot-tall steeple is being pressure washed and painted this week.
Fred Franklin of Franklin Restoration in Covington, Ga., prepared to pressure wash the steeple Wednesday, according to Chuck Hill, Franklin’s longtime friend and spotter. Hill stayed on the ground while Franklin climbed near the top of the spire.
Preparing the rigging for the project was part of Franklin’s job Wednesday.
“He climbed inside the steeple and is putting the rigging to go around the steeple,” said Hill.
Hill said Franklin climbed inside as far as he could, before coming through the upper windows and scaling the outside.
The entire project will take several days.
Franklin has done work at the church before, Hill said.
First Christian Church “was constructed between 1874 and 1876 as the second home of the Disciples of Christ in Augusta, which was founded in 1835. Paid for entirely by Mrs. Emily Thomas Tubman at a cost of over $101,000, it is a fine example of the Romanesque Revival style with Gothic details,” according to Historic Augusta’s website.
The steeple is the tallest in downtown Augusta, the website continued.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor of The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
