PROFESSIONAL ALLIANCE SPOTLIGHT
Francis J. Atkinson
& Sons Steeplejack
Lining the walls of Francis J. Atkinson & Sons Steeplejack
in Philadelphia, PA, are photographs of 95 years of family
history. While other families take sedate pictures of holidays
and vacations, the Atkinsons proudly display photographs of
a son’s first ascent to the top of a steeple and a grandfather’s
work on a soaring, gold-leafed dome. For four generations,
the Atkinson family has helped congregations preserve
the steeples, towers, and domes of sacred places that serve
as landmarks in their communities. With projects from
Washington, D.C., to Pittsburgh, PA, Atkinson & Sons
has a strong commitment to thoughtful preservation, onsite problem solving, and long-term relationships with
congregations. Francis Atkinson, III, is convinced that
the company’s longevity stems from their family-oriented
philosophy. “Our success comes from our good people,” he
explains.
From matching the color on a batch of mortar to repairing a
damaged lightning rod, Atkinson relishes the daily puzzles
that emerge from being a steeplejack. Materials in a steeple
project can range from gold leaf, wood, and terracotta to
masonry, porcelain, and sheet metal, and employees at
Atkinson & Sons go through apprenticeships to master an
array of traditional building techniques that provide the
foundation for their work. “I don’t find a steeplejack - I make
them,” Atkinson says. In addition to restoration projects in
the workshop, the steeplejacks climb towers with equipment
that protects historic materials while allowing them to
perform maintenance and repairs.
Although the company also works on industrial sites and
skyscrapers, Atkinson gets the most enjoyment from his
many projects involving congregations. He remarks that
sacred places offer “a little more coziness. People are
Three generations of the Atkinson family, surrounded by photos
of some of the many steeples they’ve worked on. Photo by
Marissa Moshier.
Francis J. Atkinson & Sons Steeplejack
2026 Murray Street
Philadelphia, PA 19115-3907
Office: (215) 677-2747
Fax: (215) 673-4668
www.atkinsonsteeplejack.com
more concerned about their house of worship” than typical
construction projects. Steeples are landmarks in their
communities, with bells and clocks that people set their days
by. From ensuring the safety of employees, to working with
congregations to financing restorations, Atkinson recognizes
that community involvement is key to the success of a steeple
project. Atkinson’s photographs of hard-to-access areas of
steeples provide congregations with new views of their sacred
places and frequently become the foundation for fundraising
efforts for the preservation of these historic structures. By
providing congregations with detailed explanations of their
options and priorities for fundraising, Atkinson & Sons
becomes long-term partners with congregations.
A project in the tower of Memorial Presbyterian Church of
Fox Chase (a recent New Dollars/New Partners participant)
in Philadelphia, PA, allowed Atkinson & Sons to help a
congregation with more than just building rehabilitation.
The steeplejacks had to remove a two-thousand-pound bell
resting on a rotting wooden floor and a shaky weathervane
on the church’s tower for the congregation’s safety. The
weathervane returned to Atkinson & Sons’ workshop for
repair, but storage of the bell posed a problem. Rather than
hiding the bell away as the congregation raised funds for the
tower’s restoration, Atkinson suggested that they simply leave
the bell with its supports on the church’s front lawn. The very
visible presence of the bell sparked community interest in
the tower restoration and allowed the congregation to tap into
the generosity of their