The Tower Bells

The Bell Story

Chimes with a mission

When you hear the chimes on a Sunday morning you know they come from the belfry. What's in the belfry are bells of varied sizes and weights strucked by actuated hammers to produce the wonderful music you hear. Of course, a dedicated bell ringer would climb halfway the tower to ring the bell using a console instead of the original rods and chains.

The musically tuned set of bells were the gift of Alvan T. Fuller in memory of his father who was a member of the church and were dedicated on February, 1916 . Eleven bells were each inscribed proclaiming the glory, honor, and praise to our living God.

The bells are made of copper and tin and are suspended on a large square frame. Their weights vary from the smallest, the G Bell, at 525 lbs., to the largest, the F Bell, at 1050 lbs. The total weight is 10,500 lbs.

Marion Gray composed a hymn on their dedication, the lyrics that resound their purpose starting with "Hark, there comes from yonder tower, Sweetest music, new and old; Bringing to our very hearthstones invitation to the fold. Listen as the sounds come clearer Jesus Lover of my Soul, Like a benediction comes it Telling of that restful goal." Four more stanzas follow and ends with "Chimes like those must have a mission, As they sound both far and near; Stirring memories oft forgotten by their message strong and clear."