THE APEX TIMES
Officials deemed the church’s historic tower unsafe after cracks appeared, prompting services to move offsite while repairs and inspections proceed.
Congregants at First Presbyterian Church in Frankfort began worshipping elsewhere after cracks were reported in the building’s historic tower, according to WKYT. The change followed an assessment that determined the tower was unsafe, leading church leadership to adjust where services would be held while further work is planned.
WKYT reported that the situation affected Sunday worship and that members were directed to attend services at a different location. For many attendees, the shift meant changing established routines at a longtime downtown church building as crews work through next steps tied to the structural concerns.
The report said the cracks were first observed in the historic tower and that officials ultimately required the church to relocate services. WKYT also referenced the presence of scaffolding around the church as part of the response to the unsafe condition, indicating physical steps had begun to address the risk and stabilize access during evaluation.
While the church’s tower is part of the historic character of the property, the immediate priority, as described in the report, was public safety for congregants, staff, and visitors. In practical terms, moving worship offsite reduces exposure to a potentially deteriorating or unstable structure while engineers and other building professionals assess what repairs will be needed.
The relocation also underscores how structural problems at older buildings can create short-term disruption even for faith communities that gather on a regular weekly schedule. Congregants who typically rely on the church location for parking, accessibility, and community programming faced the added burden of finding alternative meeting points in the weeks ahead.
WKYT’s reporting indicated that the church was working through the process of responding to the unsafe designation, with the congregation using an alternate worship site in the interim. The timeline for a return to the original sanctuary would depend on results from the assessment and the completion of whatever repairs or stabilization measures are required.
As repairs and follow-up inspections continue, church leadership and local officials will likely coordinate decisions about when the tower and related areas can reopen to regular use. For congregants, the near-term focus remains attendance at the relocated services until the building is determined safe for occupancy at the levels needed for worship and other activities.
