Henry Emerson Fosdick tells this story: Some years ago a little church on the coast of England was ruined in a hurricane. The congregation thought themselves unable to rebuild. Then one day a representative of the British Admiralty came to the clergyman to ask if they intended to reconstruct the church. The clergyman explained why they could not do it. "Well," said the representative of the British navy, "if you do not rebuild the church we will. That spire is on all our charts and maps. It is the landmark by which the ships of the seven seas steer their course." A true parable, that! Never more than now, when the souls of men need divine help, stable and secure, strong, sustaining, and empowering, was the church's message needed.
Though the hurricane of hell brought the sins of the world down upon the body of Christ, crushing the life from his limbs, that life would be restored. And the spire of the cross stands to this day for the souls of men who need divine help: Stable and secure, strong sustaining, and empowering help!
Note: This story has been described by some sources as an urban legend.