Historic New London Church Collapses
The church is situated directly next to the college's Manwaring apartments.
“It sounded kind of like thunder, like rumbling, but it was distinctly not thunder.”
This is how one student, who was in the Manwaring apartments at the time of today's collapse of the historic First Congregational Church of New London, described the incident. The Manwaring apartments, which house dozens of Connecticut College students, are situated directly next to the church.
There was “dust everywhere and I was like, ‘What? Did a building just collapse or something,” says the student. As it turns out, yes.
The church was home to the Engaging Heaven congregation. Despite one person being inside the church when it collapsed, a pastor from Engaging Heaven assured that she emerged unharmed from the incident. He added they believe no one else was inside or right outside the building when it collapsed. The city has also confirmed there are no reported injuries.
The building had seemed perfectly fine only minutes before its collapse, one witness told The Conntrarian.
While some of the building's structure and two towers still stand, much of the central section, including the steeple, has been reduced to rubble. The building is considered unsalvageable, New London Mayor Michael Passero said in a press conference.
Constructed in 1850, the gothic-style church boasted a steeple that became iconic in New London. The architect behind this masterpiece was Leopold Eidlitz, renowned for his designs, including notable structures such as the New York State Capitol, the Tweed Courthouse in Manhattan, N.Y., and P.T. Barnum’s Connecticut home.
A church bell was added to the building in 1876 and was used by the town of New London to call people to town meetings and to sound alarms.
“Hosting some of the greatest speakers during the First and Second Great Awakenings the building has once again become an epicenter for revival in New England,” says Engaging Heaven on its website.
The Manwaring apartments were promptly evacuated following the collapse. These apartments are anticipated to be inaccessible to students and school officials for a minimum of three nights as the building undergoes a safety assessment, according to Connecticut College. The college has arranged for Manwaring residents to stay at the New London Holiday Inn until the building is declared safe. Although students are currently unable to retrieve any belongings from the building, essential items will be provided by the New London Red Cross in the meantime.
“Our heart goes out to those for whom the bell no longer tolls,” Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said on the platform formerly known as Twitter. “All our prayers that there are no injuries.”
Governor Lamont further stated that he has mobilized state emergency services, personnel, and equipment to aid in the response efforts.
“We hope nobody in and around the church was injured and we will be in touch with church staff to see if there are ways that the College can provide assistance during this difficult time for their community,” Victor Arcelus, dean of students at Connecticut College, said in an email to students.