Parishioners Make Bell Ring Again at Emmanuel Newport

-The Rev. Anita Schell-Lambert, Rector at Emmanuel Newport

Built in 1902, the Emmanuel Church Bell Tower has always had two bells, but the smaller “wedding bell” has been out of commission for two years. On November 27th, a group of parishioners and volunteers undertook the complicated task of reseating the bell so brides and grooms could hear it once again.

The effort began three months ago when Emmanuel's mens group inspected the church looking for work projects. Knowing that the small bell was not working, several members climbed the tower to see what had happened. One of the two bearings that support it had broken, and it had fallen 3 inches to rest at a precarious angle, lodged in the steel of the belfry.

While it is referred to as the small bell, it is hardly tiny. The bronze bell weighs 996 pounds, and is nearly 3 feet tall with an inscription reading Clamor Ad Te Veniat. The larger bell is 6,412 pounds, 5'10" tall, and reads Domine, Exaudi Orationnem Mean. Together these inscriptions open Psalm 102 “Lord hear my prayer and let my cry come before you”. Both bells were cast by Mears & Stainbank of the Whitechapel Foundry in London, which has been in operation since 1580 and also cast the bells of Westminster Abby, Big Ben, and the Liberty Bell.

Subsequent visits to the bell for photographs and measurements led to an ambitious homespun plan to replace both bearings. Parishioner Paul Selvitelli designed a portable aluminum gantry to fit in the space around the bell. Metal fabricator Kevin Christensen constructed it and On November 27 they met Ellen and Tom Vadney, Mona Haebler, Allen Hill, Rob Currier, and physicist Chris Lirakis at the base of the tower.

Together they hauled tools, rigging gear and new bearings up the steep stairways and ladders that lead to the belfry. The bell was hoisted back into position, the shafts were polished, reshaped, the new bearings were fit and securely bolted to the steel frame. This was grassroots preservation at its best and a grand task, not a simple repair job. Not only was the effort entirely staffed by volunteers but also it is typical of the can-do attitude of Emmanuel Church’s parishioners.

Emmanuel began in 1841 as a mission of Newport’s Trinity Church, when three female parishioners recognized the need to offer free space for worship to people who could not afford to rent or own a pew. Since then, Emmanuel has been known as “the Church of the people,” where “rich and poor, high and low, great and humble all worship and work together as friends.” Emmanuel welcomed everyone, and the parish developed around the needs of mill workers, domestic servants, lawyers, and bankers. That diversity continues as Emmanuel Parish is deeply committed to outreach in Newport with “a big heart, open arms and warm, loving hands”.