Tower rings a bell

  • Published
  • By Brandy McCluskey
  • Menwith Hill Chapel
RAF MENWITH HILL, United Kingdom --  When in England, especially in the smaller towns and villages, one can easily recognize the ringing of the cathedral bells. They do not ring as a rally against danger or as a warning system; instead, they ring to let the villagers know that a worship service is about to begin.

If you are a newcomer to Menwith Hill you might be unaware, but the Menwith Hill Chapel's bell tower actually has a real, working bell -- one with a unique history.
In 1966, the Deputy Chief of the Station, Leo A LaCass, decided that the Chapel's bell tower should have a bell. The search ended when Mr. LaCass and his wife, Anne, visited a favorite antique store in the village of Helifield, near Skipton.

Mr. LaCass found the ship's bell which had previously served as the M/T (Motor Tanker) Austanger in 1940. Mr. LaCass purchased and donated the bell to the Chapel and it was installed in 1967.

The bell once rang every Sunday, five minutes before worship services and on New Year's Eve. Recently, the bell has been silenced because its lanyard was in need of repair.

Of its 70 year life span, very little is known about its origins -- only that is was once registered to the Westfal-Larson Shipping Company in Bergan, Norway. How it came to a small village in Yorkshire remains unknown.

The bell is now back in good health and ready to ring. It will soon resume its call to the faithful---sounding five minutes before every worship service, throughout the week. The bell will ring on Sundays at 8:55 a.m. for the Catholic Mass, 10:55 a.m. for the Traditional Protestant Service, at 12:55 pm. for the Gospel Protestant Service and at 4:55 p.m. for another Catholic Mass. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the bell will ring for the Catholic Mass is 11:25 a.m..

After a long hiatus the 1940 M/T Austenger will be in use again, and Menwith Hill will once more be comforted by the sounds of a small piece of history.