New London ― The demolition of the historic First Congregational Church in New London began late Saturday morning, as a growing crowd of people watched.

A grapple excavator removed parts of one of the church’s towers and then lowered and dropped the building materials onto the existing pile of rubble from Thursday’s steeple collapse. The pile was then sprayed with water from a fire hose.

No one was injured in the steeple collapse on Thursday afternoon. A secretary was inside the building at the time, but got out safely.

On Saturday morning, people took photos and videos and talked about the church, as the remaining parts of the structure started to be demolished.

New London resident Christine Derham, who was among the people watching the demolition Saturday morning from Union and State streets, said it was sad to see the demolition of the church that served as a community hub where people could get meals, if they needed them, and to see a piece of history gone.

The church was a sight she has seen every day since moving to New London about a decade ago.

“This is so much a part of the city,” Derham said of the church. “This is something I see every day walking the dog.”

Derham said there are no words to describe how something that looked so solid could just fall over as it did on Thursday, “but thank goodness no one was injured.”

New London residents Goose Wallace and Jake Fitzpatrick were relieved that no one was injured in Thursday’s collapse, which was their top concern.

The friends were talking earlier Saturday morning about how many memories the church held for people, who celebrated weddings or got meals there, and hoped some of the materials could be salvaged to preserve those memories.

“I think that seeing all the old architecture is really intriguing but it’s also very sad to see all the hard work that so many people put into it just be turned to dust a little bit,” said Wallace, who noted that a cross-section of the church was visible due to the demolition.

Wallace, who recently moved to New England, added that the collapse raises the question of how many other buildings are a day away from a potential collapse.

New London Mayor Michael Passero was on scene watching the demolition.

“The reality is really starting to sink in that we've lost an incredible historic asset in the city,” Passero said. “But also just looking at the way this building is crumbling, falling apart, it’s just a revelation that probably in the city and all over the state there are buildings in this condition that are going to have to be addressed.”

“We’ve already begun talking about how we’re going to be able to obtain inspections on other substantial structures like this that could possibly pose a risk to the public’s safety,” he added.

By a little before 4:30 p.m. Saturday, the right tower was knocked about three quarters of the way down, and work was being done on the left tower, closer to the Manwaring Building, according to Fire Marshal Vernon Skau.

By early evening, a significant part of both towers had been demolished.

Skau said demolition is expected to continue Sunday and through the week.

The cause of the collapse of the church steeple remains under investigation, he said.

k.drelich@theday.com