SPENCER, Mass. - It's been a little more than a year since a massive fire destroyed a historic church in Spencer. A lone steeple and empty foundation now sit where the iconic white building once stood on Main St.  

On June 2, 2023, a fire destroyed the First Congregational Church of Spencer and nearly everything inside of it. Reverend Bruce MacLeod said they just met with an architect to begin the process of designing a new building.

The new, multi-use space will still be a place for worship, but it will not have any pews in order to accommodate other events and meeting. MacLeod said the new building is a nod to the past and reflects where the church is going in the future. 

“I expect it will be a white frame building. We’re talking about a steeple to go on top, it won’t be as tall but at least something because that is sort of a symbol for the community and for people in town,” MacLeod said. “When they come over the hill and it’s like, we’re home. This is where we live. So I think there’s an interest in trying to do that. It will be multi-use and it will really help them do the things they feel called to do.”

MacLeod said there's no timeline for the rebuild, but work could start as soon as the fall or early next year.