160-year-old bell destroyed in fire that gutted church

PRAIRIE CREEK A western Indiana congregation whose rural church was recently gutted by a fire also lost their sanctuarys beloved nearly 160-year-old bell to the intense flames.

The Dec. 5 fire that left Prairie Creek First Baptist Church in ruins also melted its bell, which was found in the churchs basement after the steeple that once held it collapsed during the fire.

Pastor Kevin Dobson said the bell was a big part of the rural church, in part because many children had pulled on a rope to ring the bell over the decades.

Lots of kids have been lifted into the air by the weight of that bell over the years, Dobson told the Tribune-Star.

The bell was cast in 1855, more than 20 years before the church was built in 1876. The churchs insurance will replace the sanctuary but wont pay for much of the interior work or to replace the bell.

A portion of the bell that survived the fire is now stored in the home of congregation member Dan Watson. He said he isnt sure how much the 3-foot-tall bell originally weighed but said what remains is still heavy.

I was hoping we (would) find it intact, Watson said.

When the fire took place, construction was underway to add on to the 137-year-old church. The congregation of about 80 people now gathers at the community center in Prairie Creek. Despite an offer from another church to use its building, theyve decided to rebuild the church and replace the bell.

Were a community church. Our folks really just wanted to stay in Prairie Creek, Dobson said.

The church already has received one of its first donations for its rebuilding effort. A young girl who now lives out of state sent $1 to help replace the church.

The rest is here:
160-year-old bell destroyed in fire that gutted church