Leaning steeple prompts evacuation and closure of Bay Head church
The church and a nearby home were evacuated.
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A leaning steeple atop St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Bay Head has prompted officials to close the building until repairs can be made.
On Tuesday, as cleanup from the recent blizzard continued, an Ocean County deputy fire marshal working in the area noticed the church's steeple was leaning toward the west side of the building.
Crews from the Bay Head and Mantoloking fire departments responded to the church along with Bay Head police, who blocked off the area around the church.
"As a precaution, a neighboring residence was evacuated, and a safety perimeter was established. Ladder 1415 was placed in operation to provide an elevated view and assist with assessing the extent of the damage," Bay Head Fire Company No. 1 said in a social media post.
A building inspector also responded and deemed the building unsafe pending repairs.
On Facebook, St. Paul's church posted that the "church building is temporarily closed due to ongoing repairs."
Church officials asked members not to attempt entering the building, saying the congregation would be notified via email once the building is safe and reopens.
