NORTH ATTLEBORO-- It was a historic day for a his toric church. Friday, the new steeple arrived by flat-bed trailer at First Congregational Church in Oldtown to replace the old rotted one that had been taken down two years ago.

The steeple's three sections -- the belfry, the bonnet and the top dome -- were created of Fiberglas in Texas, then spent several days on the road.

It was unloaded from the trailer by crane and set to rest on the church lawn, where it will remain for a couple of weeks alongside the one it is replacing while the building's steeple base is prepared. Then, the new steeple will again be hoisted by crane, but this time to its place atop the white church that dates back to 1828.

The new steeple almost exact ly replicates the old one, down to the decorative details. Even the dome was recreated in the same soft green, and made to look aged.

It was age that first sent the congregation to consider the project four years ago when a top board on the steeple came tumbling down. An inspection revealed the extent of the deteri oration of not only the steeple, but also the old wooden tower beneath it, and the support structure for the bell. That bell is as old as the building and was cast in Medway by Holbrook Bell Foundry, and was rung by a rope until it was electrified in the late 1950s.

Once it is lifted into its new cradle inside the new steeple, the bell will again be connected to a pull rope, as in days of old.

The congregation of about 100 members has raised $80,000 for the project through fundraisers and donations, and expects that sum to cover the cost. The restoration is being done by Burgess Co. Steeplejacks of Pembroke.

Little by little, the parts of the old steeple have been recycled, said the Rev. Katrina Clinton, the church's pastor. Some pieces of wood have been made into crosses for church youths, and other pieces were used to create `` steeple people,'' small figures that were crafted by church member Jim Brinson and given to donors of $200 or more.

Eventually, Clinton said, the remainder of the old steeple will be taken apart, and some parts will be kept inside the church for historic display.

It's quite a history. Although the church building is 178 years old, the congregation itself was organized in 1712 and is approaching its 300th birthday.