Anyone who has driven on South Freeport Road lately may have noticed the large boom lift sitting on the lawn of the South Freeport Congregational Church and the flurry of activity around it. The church’s belfry has needed extensive repair for some time, and the bell within suffers from a non-repairable crack that has not allowed it to be rung properly for decades.

The decision to address this situation finally came at the beginning of September when the church council agreed that repairs could no longer be delayed. The issue of the steeple’s integrity and safety was of paramount concern.

Fixing the steeple and installing a new bell may well exceed $40,000, a huge sum for such a small church. Undaunted, the church council decided to move ahead. They hired local builder Peter Rice and repairs began, with the first step being the removal of the bell itself.

Rice explained that the original steeple was built in 1884; the current bell was cast in 1885 and was installed in 1886. Until it was recently removed, the bell had sat in its original carriage in the belfry, where 125 years of Maine weather and weekly use have left their mark.

With the bell removed, work to replace the metal roof beneath the bell (also original) and the siding of the bell tower is well under way. Using the boom lift, workers can easily “fly up” to the steeple to do their repairs.

Rice said a used bell, very similar in size and cast by the same manufacturer in 1870, has been found, and the church intends to purchase that bell and install it in the repaired steeple.

As work continued throughout September and into October, the church has turned to the weighty task of paying for the repairs and buying the used bell. As so often happens when such a critical need arises, loyal members of the congregation and community have stepped forward to help fund the work. It is a good beginning.

The church invites community members to come by and see the exciting transformation that is going on in South Freeport bell tower.

If anyone is interested in supporting this endeavor, the church is gratefully accepting contributions to it Bell Tower Fund in care of South Freeport Congregational Church, P.O. Box 46 (98 South Freeport Road), South Freeport, ME 04078.