Though silent, parish bell tells fascinating history

"This bell will probably never ring again," answered Rev. James T. Spenard, OSA, pastor of St. Augustine's parish in the Lansingburgh section of Troy. "It's a shame because it has a beautiful sound."

He was referring to the 1890s' bell that squats in the tower of the church. The huge bell, crafted by the Clinton H. Meneely Bell Company, has been silent for more than 50 years.

"We think that the bell was originally 'silenced' because the upper steeple had been dismantled," the priest explained. "Parish records indicate that the bell had a deep, resonating sound. Apparently, it was feared that the tower, which was 'bellying in' at the time, could not absorb the vibrations."

Inspection

The explorers discovered a plenitude of pigeon carcasses and what Father Spenard delicately termed as "many, many, many pounds of something else associated with pigeons."

The trip gave him an opportunity to closely inspect the "magnificent bell. I struck it with my knuckles, and the tone, even from so insignificant a strike, was gorgeous."

The bell was inscribed to the "Most Reverend Thomas Galberry, OSA, In Memoria Eterna Erit Justus."

Research

"I found out that the bell was named 'the Saint Augustine.' It had been dedicated to the second of the Augustinian pastors here, Father Galberry, who was at the parish between 1860 and 1870," he noted. "He was pastor during the time that our church building was erected and the parish school started. The inscription means, 'The just man will be in everlasting memory.' It's from the Old Testament."

Father Spenard also discovered that the north side of the bell carries an inscription that proclaims that it was made specifically for the parish of St. Augustine. It also has the name of the bishop at the time -- Francis J. McNeirny, third bishop of Albany -- and the pastor, Rev. Michael J. Collins, OSA.

Final toll

He remembers that event because he rode his bicycle from Waterford to watch the immobilization process.

"A crane lifted the bell," and it was "swung around, nearly taking out the roof" of the church and steeple.

"That would be when they decided to immobilize the bell," he said.

Replacement

"This was a mechanical device that struck tube-like instruments and amplified the sound," he said.

It sounded the Angelus daily and the call to Sunday Mass each weekend. That continued for more than 40 years, until 2000 when the chain-driven clock timer finally "gave up the ghost, with no parts available after such a long time and no repair possible," he said. "For the past two years, it's been pretty quiet here in Lansingburgh."

New sounds

The result is a sound system that peals the Angelus three times each day across the neighborhoods of Lansingburgh. In addition, there is a bell call each morning for 8:30 Mass and a peal before each Saturday evening and Sunday morning liturgy. The sound system also tolls prayers and memory for the dead at the beginning and end of each funeral Mass.

"Since the Middle Ages," Father Spenard said, "church bells have represented 'prayer in the air' for Catholic people. It's a reminder to the ear and the heart that God is with His people."

Father Spenard said that "the parish family at St. Augustine's is thrilled to once again hear the sound of bells pealing in Lansingburgh. It's a beautiful sound!"

(01-02-03) [[In-content Ad]]