Bells of First Reformed UCC Church, Lancaster
The First Bell on a Hickory Tree at the Square:
Above: The church’s first bell depicted on a stained-glass window in the sanctuary.
Above: Painting of the first bell by Ralph L. Lindsay, 2002.
Above: The church’s first bell hung on a hickory tree at Lancaster’s square until the log church’s steeple was completed in 1746. The bell came from the Ephrata Cloister, after the the Cloister decided their bells were “Babylonian Trash.” Trinity Lutheran Church also received a bell from the Cloister.
The Reformed Church’s first bell was used until 1784, when it cracked beyond repair on a cold winter’s day. A stained-glass window in the sanctuary depicts this bell today.
Today’s Two Bells at First Reformed Church
From the Same Company that Made the Liberty Bell:
Above: The two church bells at First Reformed Church, made in London ca. 1784 by Chapman and Mears. Image: The Chronicles of a Reformed Church, Colin Williams.
After the church bell cracked in 1784 the congregation replaced it the next year with two bells imported from London. Other accounts suggest the church also had a second bell that had cracked.The two new bells hung in a belfry newly built on the stone church building
The bells were cast in London by Chapman and Mears at Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The foundry was the manufacturer of Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell. It also cast the Big Ben bell, hanging in the clock tower of London’s Houses of Parliament. The Reformed church bells weigh 854 pounds and 724 pounds. Today they hang in the brick church, which is the third Reformed church house.
This London bell foundry cast the Liberty Bell 30 years earlier, in 1752.
Above: The Liberty Bell at Independence Hall, Philadelphia. Images: Wikimedia CC, Left: William Zhang, Right: Bestbudbrian
This bell company also cast London’s Big Ben bell in 1858.
Above: London’s Big Ben Bell at Houses of Parliament Images: Left: Illustrated News of the World, 1859, Right: Wikimedia CC Karrackoo
1992: Hundreds of Church Bells Celebrated Lancaster County’s 250th Birthday
Including First Reformed Church
In 1992 hundreds of church bells pealed their tones across Lancaster City and County to celebrate the county’s 250th birthday. The Lancaster New Era announced that up to 500 church bells would be chiming their voices for 15 minutes at noon on Sunday. There was no napping at noon that day. Images: Left: Ebay, Right: Lancaster New Era, May 4, 1992.
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