PHILLIPS — A community landmark, dating back to 1835, is getting a facelift.

There is an ongoing restoration effort to restore the steeple at the Phillips Community Church. Chuck Boyer, who has overseen the work that has been taking place, noted that it has been performed in stages.

With the help of volunteers, the church’s interior has been redone over six months. On the outside, the cupola, which has suffered from dry rot and structural failure, is being restored.

Boyer said that Ron Searles had done painting and construction work and “did a nice job.”

Kate Dunham, Boyer’s wife, has been coordinating the fundraising for the project. The church started raising money last year, with a goal of $20,000. They raised about $6,500 last year, said Dunham, and used another $2,000 in one of the accounts for the work.

“We did as much work as we could with the top of the steeple,” she said. “We would like to have it done before the winter. It’s going to be a busy summer.”

Another part of the restoration work involves the clock on the steeple. In 1928, Roman numerals had been painted on the steeple, but there was no clock.

Phillips resident Winona Davenport recalled that in 1990, Gov. John McKernan had asked each Maine town to pick a project as their “Main Street ’90” project. The Phillips selectmen passed along the request to the Phillips Conservation Commission, who selected a working clock for the church steeple at the Congregational Church (now the Phillips Community Church).

“For some reason, we didn’t know it would cost $20,000,” Davenport laughed.

So, the Conservation Commission conducted an intensive year-long fundraising drive that saw them secure the funds.

“We did everything,” said Davenport. “We sold minutes on the clock. Every minute on the clock has a person’s name on it.”

The Conservation Commission advertised in Uncle Henry’s for someone to put up the clock. Rick Balsar saw the ad, said Davenport, and contacted them.

“He got in touch with us and got us a clock,” she said.

The Conservation Commission is working with the church to get the clock working again. Davenport said it hasn’t been running for almost a year. She mentioned that John Stinchfield had contacted Mike Monahan of Sign Works in Farmington, who will make the new numerals.

Additionally, said Davenport, the Conservation Commission still has $1,100 in its clock fund that can be used for the project.

She said she was thrilled that the restoration work on the church, steeple, and clock is taking place.

On June 6-7, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Community House on Main Street in Phillips, a yard sale will be held as a fundraiser for the work at the church. It is part of the “Welcome to Summer” celebration in Phillips.

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