The steeple at The Memorial Baptist Church may be on the ground instead of reaching into the sky, but it's a sign of progress, the church pastor said Monday.

Jenni Farrow/The Daily Reflector (ENLARGE)

The steeple of The Memorial Baptist Church sits nestled into the landscape after being taken off for repairs.

Construction crews removed the steeple from atop the Greenville Boulevard church last week in a delicate process that required unbolting it from the roof and lowering it to the ground with a crane.

Now on firm ground, crews will work to repair the steeple, which was damaged in an intentionally set fire Jan. 13.

The fire caused nearly $2 million in damage to the church and has displaced the congregation, which is currently holding services at Immanuel Baptist Church. A Farmville man has been charged with setting the fire as well as one at Unity Free Will Baptist Church.

The Rev. Randy McKinney said he knew repair crews had decided to remove the steeple from the roof but didn't know what day it was to happen. Last week he said he was surprised to pull into the church parking lot and notice the steeple missing from the roof line.

"I drove up to the church from the side I come up on, and I see the steeple gone and it was an interesting feeling," he said. "I drove around to the side of the church to see it sitting in the yard. It's an interesting site because you don't see many steeples sitting in someone's yard, but it's a great sight to see because it is further progress in the rebuilding effort."

McKinney said the congregation hopes to return to worship in the church fellowship hall by Sept. 9 and be completely back in the building by the end of the year.

Amanda Karr can be contacted at akarr@coxnc.com and 329-9574.