Hold up there, Progress.

Change may be the wave of the future, but parishioners like the old-fashioned way when it comes to churches: Stained glass, pews, bells and organs still have their place in modern worship.

When they can afford it, congregations that are building new churches usually opt to move beloved fixtures from the previous building. And when they can't, they save what can be preserved and then let modern trends take over, said Paul Smedberg of C.D. Smith Construction in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Smedberg served as project manager on new facilities for Holy Family Catholic Community and St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran, while C.D. Smith has worked on numerous church projects over the years.

The bells

Artifacts saved from churches include stained glass windows and statues, said Smedberg.

Bells, so often tolled during baptisms, weddings and funerals, are just as special. Unfortunately, their weight and size pose problems. Smedberg said bell towers are costly today because the price of materials has skyrocketed. To make construction more affordable and to preserve other features, churches sometimes opt to sell their bells.

Such was the case with St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, which completed a new facility in August. The three bells were sold to help offset costs and keep the stained glass, upgrade the organ and move a wooden carving of the Last Supper, said the Rev. Michael Zuberbier. He said the organ dates back to 1954. The stained glass was installed in 1908, and the wooden carving, originally from Germany, was given to the church in 1958.

Zuberbier said the bells had their own history—the church youth group purchased them in 1894. But building a new bell tower would have cost $60,000 in steel alone. Transportation from the old church to the new would have totaled from $10,000 to $12,000.

"It was a tough decision but, when you have all these building expenses, something has to go," he said.

Just moving the bells proved to be taxing. One weighed more than 3,000 pounds and was 4 feet tall and 45 inches around the base, said Smedberg.

"We literally had to take a part of the facade out of the steeple to get it out," he said.

Churches like St. Peter's still have bell towers, but they aren't equipped to hold bells. Instead, they use a carillon system. The recording can be started from the sanctuary floor using a remote control, said Zuberbier. Like bells, the carillon system plays before the services, for funerals and holidays and at noon and 6 p.m. every day.

A carillon system, which costs anywhere from $8,000 to $20,000, is more financially feasible for cash-strapped churches, said Smedberg. New bell towers run from $30,000 to $200,000.

Preserving the pipes

At Hope Lutheran Church on Vincent Street, the classic organ hasn't gone out of style. In fact, the congregation has gladly donated the money to keep it playing the last 30 years.

Music director Ken Hill said the organ costs about $500 per year in upkeep, but a recent maintenance project totaled around $18,000. Through fundraising, the church made $50,000. The extra money will be saved for future repairs and maintenance.

Keeping a classic organ healthy is no easy feat. The 3,000-pipe instrument spans the balcony of the church. To reach it, maintenance personnel enter a door at the base, then crawl around the pipes and up ladders to reach various parts. Flashlights and steady feet are a must.

The pipes' size also makes things interesting. Hill said the tallest one stands about 16 feet. The smallest are about the length of an average adult hand.

Hill said the different parts allow a wider range of sound.

"The longer the pipe is, the lower its pitch," he explained.

Smaller pipes have the opposite effect. Some are so high they may resemble a dog whistle.

Hill said a little sacrifice now could have its benefits down the road, considering that new organs cost around $400,000.

"We want to keep it in good shape," he said. "It's worth the investment."

Community-centered

Smedberg said fellowship is another factor driving church construction today. Congregations want more and are requesting space for meetings, dinners and group activities.

Gone are the days when a church was all sanctuary. Nowadays, parishioners are more likely to find a hall and classrooms leading up to the heart of the church.

"The old nursery rhyme isn't going to work anymore: 'Here's the church, here's the steeple, open the door and see all the people.' Somehow we need to get more fingers," he said.

This article first appeared in the Fond du Lac Reporter. Used with permission.