Music

Bells (Chimes in the church tower)

(written by the Hopedale High School Blue Raiders) At a meeting of the Parish, June 5, 1904, our Minister, Rev. Lewis G. Wilson, urged the desirability of a chime of bells in the church tower; a committee was appointed to receive such subscriptions as might be made, and a collection was taken as a beginning. For five years the various branches of the Parish, and especially the Ladies Alliance, worked unceasingly; on June 5, 1909, just five years from the first meeting, the chime committee reported the required amount to have been raised and the Parish voted to purchase a chime of bells, placing the details in charge of the Parish Committee.
After consultation with the leading bell-makers, a chime of eleven bells was selected as best adapted to the requirements of the church and vicinity. This was one more bell than at first contemplated, involving more expense, and there were some months delay in raising the additional funds. The committee placed the order with the firm of Meneely & Co., of Watervliet N. Y., which company has the prestige of an experience since 1826, when the business was established.
The bells are eleven in number, the largest, or tenor bell, being in the key of E. The list includes bells representing the following notes:
E F# G# A A# B C# D D# E F#
All are carefully tuned to harmonize with each other and a record of each one is kept so that should it be necessary through accident to replace any of them, it can readily be done without testing the bells in the tower.

The chime is placed in a framework designed especially to fit the bell tower, with the bells located so as to give the best effect when played. The total new weight of the bells is about 9200 pounds, and with the frame work and mountings about 13,000 pounds.

INSCRIPTIONS ON THE BELLS

FIRST OR TENOR BELL

GIVEN BY JOSEPH B. BANCROFT, AND THE CHILDREN OF JOSEPH B, AND SYLVIA W. BANCROFT.

Though I toll the passing soul, My tongue shall sing the immortal life.

SECOND BELL

GIVEN BY FANNIE SMITH LAPWORTH.

They have tones that touch and search The hearts of young and old.

THIRD BELL

GIVEN BY THE ALLIANCE.

I ring the triumph of good over evil.

FOURTH BELL

GIVEN BY FRANK J. DUTCHER AND GRACE M. DUTCHER.

These maintain the fabric of the world, and in the handiwork of their craft is their prayer.

FIFTH BELL

GIVEN BY FRANCES E. COLBURN AND HANNAH T. OSGOOD.

Since God lives, I sing.

SIXTH BELL

GIVEN BY THE PARISH

I proclaim undying hope in the valley of toil

SEVENTH BELL

GIVEN BY LURA BANCROFT DAY IN THE MEMORY OF CHARLES M. DAY

Ring in the valiant man and free

EIGHTH BELL

GIVEN BY THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

I, I am part of the poem,
Of it's every sight and sound,
For my heart beats inward rhyming
To the Sabbath that lies around

NINTH BELL

GIVEN BY FRIENDS OF ADIN BALLOU

I ring the memory of the lovers of peace.

TENTH BELL

GIVEN BY THE GUILD OF A KEMPIS

If we be in tune, say Amen to the Bells.

ELEVENTH BELL

GIVEN BY FRIENDS OF LEWIS G. WILSON.

His glory is above the earth and the heavens. Praise ye the Lord

On one November Saturday, we had the pleasure of joining Fred Oldfield in his "office". We had to climb the spiral staircase, round and round to a room in the tower, high above the congregation, where Fred performs his magic. As you reach the top of the stairs, the first thing that catches your eye is the playing console and the ropes leading to a point high above, passing through the old wooden ceiling. As you look around the room the walls are of natural stone painted white in an effort to lighten the room. As Fred steps up to the console, opens his music book, adjusts the levers, he presses the first lever down the melodious sound of the bells begin to ring out. As Fred plays, you can see that he has a great passion in making the bells ring out their tune.

Today, the chimes are played by Fred Oldfield before each Sunday service and also for important occasions such as funerals and weddings, also for special patriotic occasions.

On one November Saturday, we had the pleasure of joining Fred Oldfield in his "office". We had to climb the spiral staircase, round and round to a room in the tower, high above the congregation, where Fred performs his magic. As you reach the top of the stairs, the first thing that catches your eye is the playing console and the ropes leading to a point high above, passing through the old wooden ceiling. As you look around the room the walls are of natural stone painted white in an effort to lighten the room. As Fred steps up to the console, opens his music book, adjusts the levers, he presses the first lever down the melodious sound of the bells begin to ring out. As Fred plays, you can see that he has a great passion in making the bells ring out their tune.

We thank the Hopedale High School Blue Raiders, who constructed this section including the text and graphics.