[1] This large granite edifice featured a tall central spire, rising in three stages and topped by a gold ball, typical of significant buildings in Prague.

The church occupied a prominent position on Union Street, across from the City Hall, and anchoring the Downtown New London Historic District.

[5][12][13] New London's Mayor Passero told the press that the building was likely a complete loss, as the structural soundness of the remainder could not be determined.

The photos included in that 2011 report identified areas of water infiltration through failing sections of the slate roof, and stress fractures in the exterior granite mortar.

[16] Architects, engineers, and preservationists have been studying images of the church in order to speculate about the cause of the collapse and to identify risks to other similar structures.

[17] The possible explanations for the collapse include masonry deterioration, rusting of the metal tie rods, and foundation failure.

[17] Signs of displacement in the NW buttress and deformation in the roof framing have been identified through close retrospective analysis of photos captured prior to the collapse.

[14] Environmental conditions that may have aggravated structural weaknesses include: high levels of ground saturation from a recent rainfall with a record-breaking 4 inches (100 mm) falling on January 9, 2024, compounding subsidence and other water infiltration and drainage problems; repeated damage from freeze-thaw cycles; and vibrations from pile driving for building the wind energy infrastructure at the nearby State Pier.

[21] On the day of the collapse, the authorities in New London closed City Hall and a post office in an effort to prevent traffic near the site.

[8] The City of New London placed a lien on Engaging Heaven Church for the expense of securing the site after the collapse and subsequent complete demolition, which cost nearly $250,000.