The Tower Bells of The Church of the Advent

"... I saw a mass of white-hot metal as a ladle-full was extracted for sampling purposes. The testor, finding the mixture too brittle, ordered a little more copper. Two helpers appeared, carrying between them a huge ingot of copper, and thrust it into the molten metal where it rapidly dissolved. When all was ready a door was opened at the bottom of the furnace and the thick glowing mass slowly made its way along a system of troughs arranged in the form of a main river and its tributaries. The metal disappeared down a hole at the end of the first tributary, and gradually filled the underground mould of the heaviest bell. When the hot air and dust shot spitting out of the vent hold, a barricade was rapidly built ... and the endless stream flowed on the the next branch. Thus ... the eight moulds were filled with the homogeneous mixture of bell metal, as is necessary to ensure the same quality of tone in all the bells of a peal."
-- Margaret Homer Shurcliffe, Lively Days

Despite splendid beginnings, the bells were rung for just three or four years -- and then only occasionally -- because of neighbors' complaints about the noise. For seventy years the bells hung unused in the tower, the louvers inexplicably left open. In 1971, Doug Brown, the tower captain of Groton, rediscovered them. Volunteers removed the accumulated debris and pigeon droppings, and the bells ushered in the New Year in 1972. They have rung out -- Arthur Fiedler said gloriously -- for holidays as well as the weekly service ever since.

The eight bells of the Advent are:

Bell 1 (Treble)  E flat   666 lbs  2'6"    diameter
Bell 2           D        708 lbs  2'7"    diameter
Bell 3           C        781 lbs  2'9"    diameter
Bell 4           B flat   951 lbs  2'11.5" diameter
Bell 5           A flat  1065 lbs  3'2"    diameter
Bell 6           G       1198 lbs  3'4"    diameter
Bell 7           F       1553 lbs  3'8"    diameter
Bell 8 (Tenor)   E flat  2163 lbs  4'1"    diameter

Directions:

The Church of the Advent is located between Charles Street and the Charles river, between the Boston Public Garden and the Charles Circle. The tower is located at the corner of Mount Vernon and Brimmer Streets.

The Church of the Advent is within easy walking distance from MIT. The shortest route is as follows:
Walk across the Longfellow Bridge (the one with the Red line tracks) and turn right onto Charles Street. Then continue walking towards the Boston Commons along Charles until Pinckney Street. Turn right on Pinckney Street (heading towards the river) and take the first street to the left (Brimmer Street). Continue walking until the the Church is reached. If you cross Mt Vernon Street, you've gone too far. In bad weather, the Red line Charles Street stop is the closest T stop to The Church of the Advent.

There is usually ringing on every Thursday, but this is somewhat changable. Current ringing information can be found on the web or can be obtained by contacting the Steeple Keeper at (617) 723-9441 or the Ringing Master, Elaine Hansen, at (617) 552-7145 or ehansen@mln.lib.ma.us.

Last Modified: 14 June 2000