Churches that still ring real bells are dwindling. Many churches still have their bells, but only for show and are now “ringing” digital bells. Well in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, St. George Catholic Church is doing just the opposite. They have recently acquired three bells from the St. Louis Archdiocese, that they intend to have refurbished and installed in their new church building.

St. George is a 108 year old parish. They are undergoing a major renovation in which they are building a new church and converting the old church into a early childhood education center. The parishioners really want to use reclaimed items to carry on the faith of previous generations. The final project will be a blend of the old with the new; including state of the art technology. Click here to see more about the project.

These bells are in rough shape and will need some TLC, but their sound is golden! Chime Master Bell Co., in Ohio will be handling the restoration of the bells. They will be installed in the new bell tower and set up to ring electronically. Martin Hernandez, Director of Administration and Facilities, explained that they had considered new bells, but he heard about the reclamation office in St. Louis and decided to see if there were any bells available. These particular bells have been waiting 8 years for a new home and now they found it at St. George’s!