Summer takes its toll on some church bells

Bells are not ringing in a couple of our churches this summer. On Thursday evening, July 14, lightning struck and destroyed the steeple of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Florenceville. On Friday, July 15, a crane removed the steeple at All Saints' in Keswick Ridge (near Fredericton), for repairs.

In his web blog, http://www.pastorpainter.com, on July 15, the Rev. Good Shepherd, Forenceville

Douglas Painter of the Parish of Wicklow, Wilmot, Peel and Aberdeen, said he was on the phone to his mother when a storm struck.

One blast of thunder sounded particularly close. He continued to chat until he heard a call-waiting signal. " I ordinarily ignore it finding it rude for the current party, but this time I indulged the caller." It was one of his wardens.

"Douglas you might want to come to your church," he said. "The steeple's gone."

Good Shepherd, Florenceville

Mr. Painter rushed to the scene where he found fire fighters, the ruined steeple, a rusty nail from the steeple (he stepped on it), and the Ven. Bob Dann, a former rector who dug the church basement by hand 65 years earlier. He was in town for a visit.

As new rector of the parish, the lightening strike occurred two weeks to the day after his arrival, Mr. Painter had been prayerfully pondering the future of the several buildings in his parish and looking for a sign from God to steer him in the right direction.
Damage to the Florenceville church necessitated a combined service the following Sunday in Centreville, and in the evening following the storm, a rainbow appeared over the Florenceville church.

The loss of the bell in the pretty Medley church in Keswick Ridge was nearly as dramatic. Parishioners knew the bell tower needed repairs.

Over the past couple of years they have raised money for some cosmetic repairs, but all along agreed replacement of the tower was the next project on the list.

During recent cosmetic improvements, while a carpenter attempted to put new singles on the bell tower, the entire structure began to sway. Clearly it was ready to topple in the next strong wind. Two of its supporting pillars were rotting from water damage and the upper portion of the pine tower had been eaten by termites.

A crane was hired to remove the tower, which will be replaced by a duplicate. Parishioners will each receive one of the old square nails used in the original tower as a souvenir.

While the tower is being replaced, the congregation would also like to refurbish the bell. It was built by Warren and Son, London, England, in 1866, but some time in the intervening years it was painted white. The paint compromises the sound and should be removed.

Sand or glass blasting would work, but in order to know which method to use, it is necessary to know the composition of the bell. Any insight would be appreciated. (Contact link here) The Keswick Ridge bell tower project carries a $5,000 price tag.
Community donations of cash and building materials, including two new 16-foot support beams, have been generous, but more donations are necessary to complete the work.

The new tower should be in place by the end of summer. If the mystery of the bell composition is solved by then as well, it may well be back in service on Sunday mornings, calling the faithful to worship.

Diocesan Communications
21 July 2005