Tower Bells 

The St. James' Guild of Change Ringers

The church tower is home to eight bells which are swung full-circle in the 300 year-old English church and cathedral tradition.  The ringers' Guild currently comprises fifteen persons, ages 10-70, dedicated to ensuring from five to eight ringers for every Sunday's 9:00 & 11:15 services, as well as for other occasions (weddings, when requested, and various civic celebrations such as July 4th, New Year's Eve, and times of national mourning). The Guild always welcomes those interested, or just curious, to the tower. A special program for young ringers will continue this fall. The ringing instructors are glad to provide a trial lesson (on a one-on-one basis, if desired).

Ringing times are: Sunday Service (tower) Ringing for 15 minutes after the 9:00 service and prior to the 11:15 service. 

Regular adult tower-bell practices: Mondays, 7:45-9:45 p.m., and  (most) Saturdays, 9:30-12:00. (Ringers attend either, or both.)

Youth tower-bell practice: Wednesdays, 6:45-7:45 during the school year

Hand-bell change ringers: once every three weeks or so, 7:30 p.m. (day and venue varies).

Please contact Kathryn Tucker (Guild Secretary) at 770-423-1489, or Cathy Brown (Tower Captain) at 770-423-4268

HISTORY OF THE BELLS

Bells have played an important part in the history of St. James' parish since its founding in 1842.

The bells of St. James' are intermeshed with the history of the city of Marietta, Georgia.

The original church bell was melted down in 1861 for Confederate bullets. After the war, the City of Marietta loaned its fire bell to St. James' with the understanding that it would be used for civic (fire alarm) purposes as well as religious.

It was returned to the city in 1881 and in 1882 St. James' purchased a bell from the Buckeye Foundry in Cincinnati.

The Rev. Samuel Benedict had it inscribed to his wife, Julia Benedict and this bell rang out for over eighty-two years. In 1964 the bell was damaged in the fire that destroyed the church. In 1971 a parish family had the bell recast in Holland and it is used as a Sanctus bell.

The Benedict-Schilling bell was originally cast in 1881 and then recast in 1971. It is inscribed, "In loving memory of Frederick Edward Anton Schilling, 1884-1965, given by his wife and son."

Dedication Of The Bells

This picture was taken during the retirement Eucharist for The Rev. Charles Scott May who served St. James, speaking the truth in love, for the past 23 years. The bell pictured was donated by The Rev. May's friends and parishioners. Also pictured are The Rev. Jean Ann Eitel, Deacon; The Rev. Camille Sessions Hegg; former Associate Rector; Michael Campion, Verger; and Jan Wilsden, Choir Member

In the 1990's a group of Atlanta area handbell change-ringers came to Marietta with the idea of having English full-circle change ringing bells put in the tower at St. James'. The eight change ringing bells were cast by Whitechapel Bell Foundry of London in late 1995. They were hung in the tower in early 1996 by Eayre and Smith, Ltd. of Derbyshire, England. Dedication of the bells coincided with the retirement of the Rev. Charles Scott May on 3 March 1996 after 22 years as Rector of the parish. The bells are funded by memorials and thank offerings.

To learn more about »North American Guild of Change Ringers« select the Episcopal Links.