Church bells at St. John’s Catholic Church, which have been largely silent since the church was damaged from severe wind in 1986, soon will chime again.
A group of volunteers installed a third bell atop the St. John’s bell tower, and relocated two existing bells.
On hand for the installation were crews from Hoffmeier Electric, J & J Contractors and Richard Sigg of Carlyle.
A tractor was used to hoist the bells in place — the lightest weighed 300 pounds; the heaviest 600 — until they could be fastened properly.
Next up is to install wiring so the bells can chime using a remote signal, said Gary Hoffmeier, who has helped oversee the project.
The bells will be used at various church functions, Hoffmeier said, including regular worship services and funerals.
The third bell was purchased by a member of the St. John’s congregation, Hoffmeier said.
The bells formerly were in the church steeple, which was toppled by strong winds in August 1986. A bell tower was built on the St. John’s grounds a few years later, but the bells rang only a few times.
Hoffmeier said the third bell was purchased from Verdon Bells of Cincinnati, Ohio, the same company that manufactured the bell used for the clock tower in the old Allen County Courthouse in the early 1900s.
“Those bell companies have been around forever,” Hoffmeier said. “This one’s been in business for more than 160 years.”
The existing two bells were refurbished as well.
Each of the three bells contains a different inscription. The new one reads “St. John’s 2010, Iola, KS” while the middle one has a cross. The bottom one contains the words “sanctus blasius” a Latin term for holy or beautiful music.
“I can’t think of a more enjoyable project that I’ve been a part of,” Hoffmeier said.
His original goal was to have the bells in place and ringing by Easter Sunday.
“But things have moved along so quickly, I’m trying to get it ready by Ash Wednesday,” he said.
Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is next week.
