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EDINA, MO -- Major work is being done on the steeple of a catholic church in Edina. The St. Joseph Catholic Church was erected back in 1874, and today it stands 195 feet tall.

On the corner of Smallwood and Main Streets sits the 138 year old structure.

Larry Clark, a member of the church's renovation committee told KTVO a strong storm passed through late February or early March of this year, causing leakage and metal damage. The committee went to their priest to discuss the issues.

"He's very supportive," Clark said. "He was a little bit taken back by the amount of cost that's going to be involved in all of this, but its just something that needs to be done."

The project is not only a concern for the congregation, but Clark tells KTVO the community pitched in as well. KTVO got an exclusive tour inside the steeple.

Little Jacobi Miller was able to climb the scaffold a few days ago and actually touched the cross, at the top of the steeple

"It was weird climbing that high," Jacobi said. "I've never climbed that high before."

All the brick, mortar and wood to help build the original structure came from the Edina area. St. Joseph has a large number of parishioners, with at least 192 active families.

KTVO has learned that the steeple was not part of the original structure of the church, it was actually added it a few years later. Construction on the steeple has been going on for about a month now. It's expected to be completed late November.