Alabama Historic Preservation Department 1800’s documents show that the local communities contracted with churches to sound their bell at specific times of the day, audibly announcing to people the time of day.

Mr. WW Law, Savannah, explained that in times of drought, he would sit in the steeple at night, open the louvers and watch for fire in the thatched roofed buildings. When fire was sighted, Mr. Law would ring the bell wildly, announcing the alert into the community. Each church in Savannah had a different size bell, thus a different musical note sounded the fire alarm, locating the neighborhood where the fire was. 

In 1934, the State of Georgia passed a law prohibiting thatched roofs.

The textile mills often provided communities with a bell to be sounded for shift changes. In Tallassee, Alabama, a bronze bell, now sitting in the city park, inscription says the bell as sounded for the 3 AM shift change.

The farm bell was rung for various messages and timekeeping on the local farms and plantations. Farm Bells were made in three sizes:

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In England, each village composed a simple melody to alert workers that the time strike was about to be sounded, permitting the worker to pause and to prepare, to count the time strike on the bell. The Westminster is most recognized, but the Winchester, Whittington, St. Michael’s are well known.

Prior to 1897, time keeping was primarily indicated by a bell. In 1897, the pocket watch was developed in a manner for mass production, reducing the cost to $3.00, about two weeks’ wages. By 1920, most supervisors had pocket watches, drastically reducing the dependency for time keeping with a bell. Most U.S. bell foundries closed during 1890-1920.
 

Church bell ringing enhances the church celebrations, and announces to the community that the church is here to serve them. Prior to 1950, most people walked to church. A single bell was rung by swinging the bell back & forth, producing a pulsing sound, for one to three minutes. This Call-To-Worship bell ringing alerts staff & congregation, that the worship service is about to start. 

The single bell would have two strikers: an interior swing striker, and an exterior striker. The exterior striker struck the bell while stationary. This produced a monotonous sound.  A single bell struck rung once every ten seconds is the Funeral Toll. The Funeral Toll has two traditions. The Funeral Toll struck rung for five minutes, the time it takes to carry the deceased to the altar. The Funeral Toll struck rung for the number of years the person had lived. The Funeral Toll rung at sundown on Friday evening at a cemetery is known as the DeProfundis, rung in honor & in remembrance of the dead.

Three swinging bells became known as the Joyous Wedding Peal. When the couple at the altar, are introduced as Man & Wife, the Joyous Wedding Peal announces to the community that the wedding has, in fact, taken place
 

Three Bell Joyous Wedding Peal: European Tradition
 

Christmas and Easter morning are special celebrations. The American Five Bell Peal and the European Six Bell Peal announced these special occasions, and visiting dignitaries.
 

Grand Peal of Six Bells: European Tradition 
 

In 1989, the right for a church to sound a bell was challenged in the US Supreme Court. The Supreme Court stated that a church has a historic right to sound bells, and a moral obligation to do so. 

In the aftermath of the school shootings in 1990’s, the National Main Street magazine published an article on amenities that would reduce the potential of such violence. The article listed the sound of church bells: Church bells provide a sense of well-being, prosperity, and that there is a higher authority to account to. 

Bells: The Rolls Royce of Musical Instruments

A Bell Peal consists of one to six bells, using specific combinations of musical notes. 
A Chime of Bells consists of four to 22 bells. A fourteen bell chime is capable of playing 70% of hymns. Examples of nine bell chimes and fifteen bell chimes:
 

(Bell weights are expressed in pounds.)
(Bell weights shown are for un-decorated bells. Decorated will weigh 3% more.)

The musical instrument Carillon of Bells consists of 23 bells, or more. The Guild of Carillonneurs defines a concert pitch carillon as 49 musical bells ranging from C3 bell weighing 4,730 lbs., 59 œ” diameter, up to, C7 bell weighing 24 lbs., 7 7/8” diameter. The carillon is capable of performing classical music. 
 

The carillon is played with a Clavier, a medieval keyboard. The wooden batons are depressed using hands & feet, pulling cables attached to the bell strikers. The rate & velocity of the depression provides classical performance on the carillon.

In recent years, digital electronic Bell Controllers have provided automation of bells, punctually sounding time keeping functions and church celebrations. The bells may be equipped with both Manual Bell Strikers & Electronic Bell Strikers. The electronic controllers may be equipped with midi musical interfaces for performance play on pipe organs and keyboards.

In the 1940’s, electronically recorded bell sounds provided an in-expensive way for institutions to have a complete range of bell functions and live performance carillon play. Electronic Chimes and Carillons may be interfaced with musical instruments.

Digitally encoded bell musical notes provide a cost effective carillon / chime for live performance play and community outreach, attracting people to your church.

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