Steeplejack at work on First Universalist Church of Dexter

DEXTER — Work is being done on the steeple of the First Universalist Church of Dexter. The church, the first meeting house in Dexter, was founded in 1828. It has undergone several renovations over the years, but looks today as it did over 100 years ago, with beautiful stained glass windows, a wonderful working Estey pipe organ and a magnificent steeple over 120’ tall. The church is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the State of Maine.

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STEEPLE WORK — George F. Burgess, Jr. of Burgess Steeplejacks in Rockwood recently began work on the historic steeple of the  First Universalist Church of Dexter.

Even though the congregation is small, it has worked hard to maintain the building due to its prominent place in the center of town between the library and the town hall. Since the last major renovation in 1985, time and weather have taken a toll on the upper most parts of the steeple causing much weathering and allowing water to enter the tower.

George F. Burgess, Jr. of Burgess Steeplejacks from Rockwood has been hired to repair this damage. The church has started a capital campaign to fund this project.