The church, located at 633 Ivory Road in the town of Carroll, has had to replace shingles on the steeple at least three times in its 122-year history due to damage caused by woodpeckers. The latest project was recently completed this past fall with assistance of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, which kicked in $2,000.

To cover the rest of the rehabilitation project, the church used money from its annual budget. In addition to new shingles, sheet metal was installed at the base of the steeple to prevent woodpeckers from damaging the wood that had been there previously.

“It’s something that we wanted to do for a year,” said Terry Arndt, a trustee with the Ivory Baptist Church, regarding the project. “We’re a small church, and our annual budget is about $50,000.”

Arndt said holes caused by woodpeckers were clearly visible on the steeple.

The church had asked for an estimate to allow a local contractor to do the work. However, at a potential price tag of about $19,700, the church opted to purchase the materials and act as its own contractor. In all, the church spent about $5,000 for the project in addition to the grant by the community foundation.

In order to give the 65-foot steeple its facelift, a lift had to be rented.

The last time the church received new shingles was around 1984. In a photograph captured by The Post-Journal around that time, a man can be seen hanging from a rope attached to the top of the steeple. A caption noted that the last time the steeple had been reshingled was around 1950.

The church was established in 1897. The total cost to build the structure was $1,800, of which $500 was borrowed. In seven months from the start of the work, the church was ready for use. It was dedicated Nov. 7, 1897.