New London ― Three days ago, tragedy befell one of the city’s landmarks as the First Congregational Church, which had for more than 170 years contributed both a place of worship and piece to the city skyline, collapsed.

As Engaging Heaven Ministries Pastor Bob Nicolls stood on State Street Thursday, gazing on the wreckage of his congregation’s former home, he and other congregants tried to plan where their next service would be held.

They were unsure where the congregation would meet, but knew it would meet.

The Garde Arts Center, Nicolls had hinted, had reached out about having the congregation hold its Sunday service there.

By Sunday, it had become reality. A few hundred people packed the floor of the Garde, hands raised or heads bowed, mourning the church but also celebrating the outpouring of support the city and its residents had given to the congregation, unifying after a tragic event.

About 1:30 p.m. Thursday, the steeple and a large portion of the historic church’s roof fell in. City officials and emergency personnel established a perimeter around the building in case the remaining towers and walls would come down next. They were demolished Saturday.

Meanwhile, city residents huddled beyond fences ― awed by the sight of the large granite slabs and wooden planks that had spilled onto the church’s State Street-facing lawn; exchanging theories about what had happened; and, until it was determined that no one had been trapped inside, worrying.

Among the many questions at that time ― What would become of the church's congregants, Engaging Heaven Ministries, who had purchased and made the building its home in 2015?

“Our building is in ruins. Our fiery church family, and our scrappy city, has been dealt a significant blow,” Nicolls said Sunday. “We cannot replace the beauty and the history that we all lost with the collapse of our beautiful building. In moments like these, we find ourselves heavy-hearted.”

“We must also remain hopeful-hearted. Hope is all we have when we are faced with our own frailty.”

Nicolls proceeded to thank Garde directors Steve and Jeanne Sigel for letting them borrow the theater, along with Fire Chief Thomas Curcio, Mayor Michael Passero and other city officials for providing assistance in the wake of the collapse.

Steve Sigel recalled a time long ago, when people in the city had considered the Garde itself for demolition.

Happy to still have the facility at the community’s behest, he added it owns the facility “precisely to pay it forward and helps others.”

Passero said the community in this city looks out for each other day in and day out, and that was shown during this crisis.

“And then, it’s shown off to the whole world. We reaffirm our commitment to each other in this city. That’s what we do,” he said.

Nicolls blessed the mayor’s feet and hands to provide him with wisdom and counsel to deal with any situation that befalls the city, even unusual ones such as this.

Sara Nicolls, congregation member and wife of Pastor Nicolls, said the support from the city, Engaging Heaven congregants and people around the world has been incredible. “Little New London,” she said, had been heard around the world.

“It’s crazy. But we know the truth. It’s not little New London,” she said. “It’s mighty New London. We love this city and we love each and every one of you with all the love that God has enabled us to have.”

The congregation will continue to find ways to hold its programs, Bob Nicolls said. The church is still going to hold its community breakfasts Monday through Friday at the Salvation Army at 11 Governor Winthrop Blvd., and it may be back at the Garde for Sunday service next week.

As with many cities in New England, this is one steeped in its religious tradition. It’s evident in the grand structures that adorn its streets, like the one that fell Thursday.

“You know, when these cities around here in New England, when they first came, the community would ― the first thing that they would build is the church,” Nicolls told congregation members, city officials, emergency responders, and other new faces.

“They made sure the church was established before they built their own homes,” he added.

Besides the loss of the physical structure of the church ― its beautiful ornate windows and hulking granite blocks ― Nicolls said it was what happened inside those walls that serves as the building’s story.

“History will tell the story of this moment,” Nicolls said. “To all the eyes of the world watching our city - keep watching. Don’t look away. If you’ve never seen a miracle before, you’re about to.”

By 7 p.m. Sunday, a substantial portion of the church’s wall along Union Street had been knocked down, although it was unclear how much of that work had been done Sunday.

Passero said he would meet with the demolition team and engineers Monday morning to discuss plans for the building.

Anyone wishing to donate to Engaging Heaven can do so at the congregation’s GoFundMe at http://tinyurl.com/6kcdwcw6.

d.drainville@theday.com