Grand Rapids church raising funds to replace bell ringers

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The bells at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Grand Rapids that ring each day have long been a neighborhood staple, but the sound may fade away if repairs are not made to the electronic system that operates them.

The motors that ring the four bells need to be replaced.

One of the bells is believed to be the biggest in the city, Rev. Ron Floyd, the pastor at Sacred Heart, said.

“(The four bells have) been here since the church was dedicated 100 years ago this past January,” Floyd said. “The bells are in excellent condition. They made things to last back then. The ringers were installed in the 1950s … and yet they kept on ringing for a long time. Earlier this year, we found that the bells were starting to glitch. They would not ring or one wouldn’t ring.”

The control system was recently updated thanks to a donation but the motors need to be replaced.

“To replace them the way that they were would be about $19,000 for the three motors that would be needed. One of the bells, the motor stopped ringing some years ago and because of the size of the bell, the largest bell, they decided not to replace the swinging motor because of the torque that creates in the bell tower. Instead, they have a striker which is a little bit cheaper of an option, but not considerably cheaper,” Floyd said.

Floyd says the church has raised about $4,000 so far.

“We’re really looking to raise funds so that we can secure their future for another 100 years,” Floyd said.

The church hopes to raise the funds before the bells stop working.

“Whether you’re Catholic or you’re not Catholic, the bells ringing, a beautiful church, the spires on the West Side, that’s part of our culture and it makes us who we are. It provides a little bit of beauty in our life when often times, we’re stuck in the hustle and bustle of the everyday world and we forget what’s really important,” Floyd said.

If you would like to make a donation you can do so through the parish’s website or stop at the office to drop off a donation.

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