Everything is back in order — just as it was intended to be — at the 157-year-old city clock.

The city-owned clock, located at the First Baptist Church on the corner of Washington and Elm streets, hadn’t been striking for more than two years. The city identified funds to repair it this summer. Balzer Family Clock Works of Freeport promptly took care of matters, repairing it in one month.

Since Sept. 7, people in Bath once again have heard the lovely bell that strikes on the hour — as many times as the hour indicates.

“It’s a beautiful tone,” said Linda Balzer, who runs the company with her husband, Rick. “It’s a bell strike. That clock is very historically significant.”

There’s no disputing that. The town purchased the clock in 1855 to replace the one lost when the church burned. It has been a historic landmark in the city ever since.

And now, the city clock is functioning as originally intended. Balzer replaced the malfunctioning electrified parts, and restored it with a weight-driven, pendulum-regulated timepiece.

“Electrification was not the way to go,” Linda Balzer said. “The weights are a better solution.”

Mike Peabody, facilities director for the city, said that the city council approved money to repair the chime. The clock itself was another matter, he said.

“The hands on the clock broke, so we got temporary hands made and it warped,” Peabody explained. “When it was windy, it would hit the numerals and stop.”

Peabody, who manages the city clock, shimmed the hands of the clock so that it worked correctly last year.

“Before, I had to keep going back up there and adjusting the hands,” he said.

The Rev. Steve Rowe, pastor at the First Baptist Church, said that a big storm damaged the tower and clock a few years back.

“We’re glad that it’s working,” Rowe said. “You can hear the chimes all across town and it’s kind of cool, really. Some neighbors thought it was too loud, but they’re getting used to it.”

The clock serves more than one purpose, Rowe said.

“It’s really kind of nice to have that historical reference in our city,” he said, “and it’s also a call to God’s house, which we think is great. Some people who were visiting attended church here this summer, after seeing the clock.”

On Oct. 25, 2008, the city rededicated the clock tower in a proclamation. The proclamation ended as follows:

“The city of Bath would like to extend a hand of friendship, fellowship and good will to the First Baptist Church as this clock and tower are rededicated with an eye toward the future, being ever mindful of the value and sanctity of time for posterity.”

¦ ON OCT. 25, 2008, the city rededicated the clock tower in a proclamation. The proclamation ended as follows:

“The city of Bath would like to extend a hand of friendship, fellowship and good will to the First Baptist Church as this clock and tower are rededicated with an eye toward the future, being ever mindful of the value and sanctity of time for posterity.”