THE BELLS ARE BORN

The Tenor bell (the lowest in pitch, D above middle C) is called John (as in The Baptist, the “voice in the wilderness.”) This honors the original donor to our bell project, Mrs. John Hansen, who made a bequest in 1998, and in the 1960s had given the electronic carillon that these bells replace, in memory of her husband John. The bell is 26 7/8" in diameter and weighs 480 lbs.  The Second, at E above middle C, is Eve, after the second of our ancestors. She is 24 1/4" in diameter and weighs 370 lbs.  The Treble (highest pitch in this peal) at F# above middle C, is Rebekah, “the mother of thousands and millions.” She is 22" in diameter and 290 lbs.

The bells are of bronze, and were cast by the Meeks, Watson Co., of Georgetown, Ohio.  Ringing the bells is a very satisfying way to be involved with the day’s service. We need a total of six people, three at each service, to ring the entire half peal each week. The Bell Guild needs YOU! It’s not at all difficult or strenuous. Contact George Barnum if you’d like to join.

SOME BACKGROUND

Stand in the churchyard of practically any English parish church of a Sunday morning, and you’ll likely be greeted by sounds as well as sights. In particular, the sound of bells, either ringing freely or in the complicated, mathematical patterns the English call change ringing have been a part of English life for centuries. Throughout our history, sounds have come forth from All Souls’ tower as well. In the 1920s, an electrical chime manufactured by the J.C. Deagan Co. of Chicago was heard, which operated until the 1950s. In the sixties, Mrs. Anne Hansen, a parishioner, gave an electronic chime, as a memorial to her husband John. These instruments had their own charm, but lacked the genuine sound of church bells.

Mrs. Hansen left Washington for retirement in Florida, and passed away in the nineties. She left generous bequests to All Souls, one for the gardens, the other for “maintaining the carillon,” which was by then very nearly worn out. The Vestry, Buildings and Grounds Committee, rector, and legal counsel consulted the executors and determined that we would honor the spirit and intention of Mrs. Hansen’s bequest by using the funds to equip the tower with proper church bells. A tremendous, exhaustive job of research was undertaken by Don Harrell, which led us, about two years ago, to place an order with the Meeks, Watson Co. of Georgetown, Ohio, for three bells.

Bellfounding is an ancient and notmuch-practiced craft; Meeks, Watson are the only remaining bellfounders in production in the U.S.  William Meeks arrived in early March of 2006 with the three bells (one in the key of D; one in E, and the third in F-sharp) to be hoisted by crane into our diminutive tower. The top chamber of the tower was cleared and the three bells placed, where they waited quietly until the point in the Great Vigil of Easter, when the Resurrection is proclaimed and bells are rung.

YOU CAN RING, TOO

Our Bell Guild is responsible for ringing the bells for services and special occasions. If you have an interest, please contact the church office or speak with Mr. George Barnum.