Published: September 17, 2008 02:57 pm      

New Albany's St. Paul's suffers double hit

Two pieces of history were destroyed in one gust of wind Sunday afternoon at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church — located at 1015 E. Main St. in New Albany.

A large tree, more than 100 years old on the church’s property, had two “gigantic limbs” snapped by the wind, according to St. Paul Rev. Polk Culpepper. One of the limbs fell on the church’s carriage house, which suffered major damage.

“That tree had a tremendous amount of sentimental value,” Culpepper said. “A lot of people had carved their initials into that tree over the years.”

Church member Mary Ann Sodrel and her husband, Don, arrived at the church for a concert minutes after the tree had fallen.

“We are all just devastated,” Sodrel said. “We have been involved in the capital campaign and we all said we have to work around that tree and not disturb it.”

However, Mother Nature had other ideas. While the tree was destroyed, Culpepper said a structural engineer informed him the carriage house can be saved. The church was in the process of a capital campaign to enlarge the carriage house. He said they might have to step up their campaign and construction start time.

Culpepper said he was in the parish house when he heard the large boom, and looked outside to see the destruction.

“It could have been a lot worse,” Culpepper said. “No human beings or other living creatures were hurt.”

St. Paul’s was founded in 1834 and was the first continual meeting Episcopal church in Indiana.

The church has been providing meals to the needy every Friday at the carriage house. That will continue, but will be moved to the parish hall along with other activities.