Restore FUMC's 150 year old Bell

The Bell at FUMC is 150 years old this year.  Through our research, we have discovered that it has resided on the corner of Church & State Streets in Champaign, IL for all of those 150 years and is believed to be the oldest Bell in Champaign County.  The First United Methodist Church has had three separate buildings throughout our Bell's lifetime (1860, 1888, & 1907) and our Bell was moved into each one of those buildings.  Our current Stone Church, built in 1907, has been added onto and renovated several times.  The Bell has remained through it all.  It weighs over 1,000 pounds and is truly beautiful to see.  To imagine the work it must have taken to move it into each new building is staggering.  We have not been able to trace the last time this Bell was rung, but we know the majority of the residents in Champaign have never been able to hear it.

 It is our goal to restore this Bell so, not only can our children hear it ring, but future generations as well.  The restoration of the Bell will cost $25,000.  That will include making a mold of the yoke and A-frame stand and casting them in Iron so that they are exact replicas; then replacing the bell wheel equipment, headpiece, clapper, clapper springs, toll hammer, and the bolts. Finally, the rope pull will be replaced.  The youth of our congregation are very eager to ring the Bell using this rope!

We are hoping to begin the restoration process in July and to have a community potluck at West Side Park to celebrate it's inaugural ringing in early October.   This Bell is historically significant, not just to the First United Methodist Church, but to all of Champaign County.  It was one of the first residents of this area and it deserves to be restored and rung for all to hear.