On the evening of October 23, 2018, the First Baptist Church was struck by lightning and quickly became a devastating 7-alarm fire that destroyed the historic 148-year-old building. The new church is being rebuilt on the same land, designed to honor its history while meeting the needs of today’s community.
We were introduced to the project in 2021 with the mission of preserving the original aesthetics of the church. Our scope included the installation of all windows and cladding systems, featuring James Hardie siding, PVC trim, and James Hardie panels.
One of the most rewarding moments came at the end: after finalizing the siding, we witnessed the tower being placed atop the church, completing the exterior cladding and bringing the building’s iconic profile back to life.
This moment marked the conclusion of Longarone’s journey on the First Baptist Church of Wakefield project—a combination of tradition, craftsmanship, and modern building performance.
