List of bells in Boston facts for kids
This article is about the many working bells in Boston, Massachusetts. Most of these bells are found in tall bell towers across the city. Bells have been an important part of Boston's history, ringing out for special events, church services, and to mark the time.
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Famous Bells in Boston
Boston is home to many historic and beautiful bells. Here are some of the most well-known:
Church of the Advent
The Church of the Advent has bells that are part of Boston's rich soundscape.
Faneuil Hall
The bell at Faneuil Hall has a cool story! It was fixed in 2007 after being silent for a long time. Its "clapper" (the part that swings to hit the bell) was stuck. People used WD-40 (a spray that helps loosen things) for a week to free it. The bell was last rung with its clapper at the end of World War II in 1945. Before the repair, people would sometimes hit it with a mallet to make it ring.
King's Chapel
The bell at King's Chapel was made in England and put up in 1772. It cracked in 1814, so it was melted down and remade by the famous Paul Revere. This bell is the biggest one Paul Revere ever made, and it was the last one he cast himself! It has been ringing for services ever since.
Old North Church
The Old North Church has eight special bells used for "change ringing." This is a unique way of ringing bells in a changing pattern. These bells were made in England in 1744 and put up in 1745. One bell even says: "We are the first ring of bells cast for the British Empire in North America, A.R. 1744." The bells were fixed up in 1894 and again in 1975. Students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who are part of the Guild of Bellringers take care of them and ring them regularly.
Old South Church
The Old South Church also has bells that add to the city's sounds.
Old South Meeting House
The Old South Meeting House is now home to another bell made by Paul Revere in 1801. This bell was put in place in 2011.
Arlington Street Church
The Arlington Street Church has bells that are part of Boston's bell collection.
Park Street Church
The Park Street Church has a "Whitechapel bell" made in 1819. In 2021, five new bells were added and tuned to match the old one. Before 2021, the Whitechapel bell had been quiet for about a hundred years, except when someone hit it with a mallet. Now, all six bells are controlled by computers. They can be rung by swinging or by a hammer hitting them. The new bells are set up to play the "Westminster quarters," which is a famous tune often heard from clock towers, with the Whitechapel bell ringing for the hour.
Cathedral of the Holy Cross
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross has five bells. These bells were made in 1859 and 1860 and were moved from another church called Holy Trinity Church.
Filene's Building
The Filene's building in Downtown Crossing has four small bells. These bells also chime the Westminster quarters tune.
The Mother Church
The Mother Church has a "chime" of 18 bells that were put in place in 1984. These bells also play the Westminster quarters tune.
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