WILLIAMSBURG, Va.--A Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation in York County, near Williamsburg, is giving away its steeple to any church group that can haul it away, according to the Associated Press.

It is a high-dollar gift. Mark Denison, facilities manager for the denomination's 18 church buildings in Hampton Roads, said the weather-resistant fiberglass steeple is worth between $10,000 and $15,000. The church bought a new one even though Denison says the 18-year-old steeple still looks new.

He says the free steeple is made of weather-resistant fiberglass and guesses that it weighs at least one thousand pounds. It's worth between $10,000 and $15,000.

Already five churches have asked about the steeple. But Dennison said if no church takes the 1,000-pound structure, his church will take it to the dump.

In related news, a southwestern Minnesota congregation is also taking down their steeple and disassembling their building to give it away. According to the Star Tribune, the 18-member church near Canby, Minn. is disbanding because of age and decline in their numbers and in the surrounding area.

Country churches have been abandoned or torn down in many rural areas of Minnesota. But the Canby church is sending their 1928 building 100 miles away to the Shores of St. Andrew Bible Camp near New London. The congregation is paying $70,000 to finance the move of the country church.

"They were such a common sight out there in western Minnesota. Today they're disappearing one by one," said Dave Eliason, executive director of Green Lake Lutheran Ministries, which runs the St. Andrew youth camp. "It will be nice to have one that continues to serve people."

It will become a prominent physical symbol of the Lutheran camp's mission, he said, and it may be used for weddings as well as camp activities.

Friends of the camp are seeking $80,000 to erect a foundation, put the steeple back on, put in electricity and make other improvements to the church, which seats between 120 and 140.