MARTINSVILLE, Ind. — As storm cleanup efforts are underway across the state, several areas haven't fully recovered from previous storms. Back in March of 2023, Morgan County was hit by an EF-3 tornado. The twister damaged a historic church, toppling a steeple more than 100 years old. “It d id a lot of devastation in the Martinsville area, but we didn't know that it had hit the church until obviously, we heard from other people,” said Tim Jennings with the church.When the storm cleared, the steeple at First Presbyterian Church, which had been standing since the 1800s, was no longer there.“We saw the steeple not only topple over, but puncture a hole in our sanctuary and fall into the courtyard, and essentially was demolished at that point,” said Reverend John Erickson.The sanctuary sat empty for about a year and a half, as it was filled with dust and debris between the pews and a massive hole in the ceiling.“We actually were going to be introduced as the newest members of the church when the tornado hit,” said Jennings.As a former construction worker, Jennings has been the liaison, helping to restore the church back to its former glory.“Well, when God lets bad things happen to good steeples, God makes good things happen to them, too,” said Erickson. “We're just so grateful for the steeple going up.”People gathered at the corner of East Washington and South Sycamore to watch as the copper spire was raised up and then placed onto the tower.We also got a walk-through of what the sanctuary looks like now."Everything has been refurbished, from the carpet to the paint. We've cleaned the pews, of course,” said Erickson.Inside, the light shines in from the stained glass windows, making the place of worship look as good as new. ...read more read less