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| The Bell Tower at WPPC has been an icon of the church since it was completed on February 24 1959. The cupola was crafted by Coppersmith William Bissontz using 16 oz, cold-rolled copper, weighing in at around 1,500 pounds. It was dedicated to be a symbolic lantern as a constant reminder that WPPC is a sanctuary of worship to God, who is a 'lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path.' |
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In August 2004, Hurricane Charley swept through Winter Park with winds exceeding 100 Mph. The copper cupola from the Bell Tower was ripped from its moorings and plummeted to the roof of the finance office, then to the ground below.
The cupola was damaged beyond repair by the fall, so Edward Majewski of EJMcopper, Inc. was commissioned to provide a replacement. They carefully measured and documented the details of the original and crafted a duplicate in their Orlando shop. |
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The new cupola was built with a welded stainless steel frame for strength and support ... |
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... and clad in both 16 oz and 20 oz cold rolled copper. It was hand fabricated by master coppersmith Tim Pierce over a period of 4 weeks. |
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Lindstrom Construction, property restoration specialists, of Plymouth, Minnesota repaired the structure of the Bell Tower to support and accept the new cupola and... |
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On Setember 1, 2005, just over one year since Hurricane Charley, the new cupola arrived and was carefully hoisted into place with an 85 ton crane. |
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It was carefully fastened in place, and the cross affixed to the top. |
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Once more, the WPPC Bell Tower stands complete as a beacon of God's grace both in Winter Park and beyond. May it last for generations.
Drew Marshall
Winter Park Presbyterian Church
Setember 1st, 2005 |
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Once again the building and grounds of WPPC have been restored to their original beauty. |
