NORWICH – Before the United States was established, before the American people sought their freedom and well before the Civil War took place on American soil, a man by the name of William Brend of England cast a bell that now, 394 years later, will ring officially for the first time here in America – in Norwich.
The bell, originally made in 1613, has been placed in the tower of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church and, in celebration of the church’s 175th anniversary, will open Sunday’s service.
Starting in West Park in downtown Norwich at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, a full processional, complete with Steve Cady on bag pipes, will make its way to the Emmanuel church. The event is open to the public and it is anticipated that other area churches and Mayor Joseph Maiurano will be on hand and various readings will be provided. “It will be a full processional with crosses and candles and everything,” said the church’s pastor, Rev. Glenn Mahaffey. Following the processional, the morning’s service will take place at 10 a.m., at the sounding of bell.
The bell, arriving in Norwich in August, came to Norwich from its sister city, Norwich, England. “It is a way to keep the Norwiches of the world united,” said Fr. Mahaffey.
The project to acquire such a bell began in 1988 through the efforts of Fr. Bob Deacon and the late Mayor Marge Chomyszak. In preparation of the bell’s arrival, the tower required work, which was done by Denny Schlafer contracting, a local company.
The bell was part of a peal of five bells at St. Mary’s Church in Tasburgh, England (eight miles south of Norwich) and for almost 400 years has been calling people to worship. Now, after a long journey, Fr. Mahaffey says it will now ring again every Sunday to call people to worship.