The Bell in the Steeple

In 1866 Rev. John Knox, the pastor of First Methodist Episcopal Church of Topeka, appealed to his friend John Paisley of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for help in completing the church building at Fourth and Quincy Streets. Through much hard work by the congregation during the hard times of "Bloody Kansas" and the Civil War, the building had been constructed but no "frills" were included. Under Rev. Knox’ leadership, the steeple was built and he and the members longed for a bell to announce the time and call the congregation to worship. (The photo at right shows the Quincy Street church with the steeple under construction).

John Paisley paid for the bell to be cast at the A. Fulton and Sons Foundry in Pittsburgh and shipped to Topeka. It was a "Centenary Bell," commemorating the 100th anniversary of Methodism in the United States.

From 1866 to 1881 the bell rang out from its location in the steeple of the church on Quincy Street. A town clock was added to the steeple. Then the growing congregation needed a larger building and relocated to the corner of Sixth and Harrison Streets. The bell went along, of course, but in 1888 it was sent back to the foundry and recast - one report says that a crack appeared after being hung in the new church, and others say it was recast because a larger bell was needed.

After being rehung in its place of honor, the bell and the clock in the steeple were reminders to the congregation and the Topeka community of the roots of the church and its importance in the city. The clock stopped working but the bell was faithful in its duties until the day in August, 1921, when fire destroyed the church and the steeple. The clock and bell crashed to the platform below. "I can still hear the bell as it fell from the tower; it made a big impression on a young boy," said member Bob Rice in a letter to the church in 1988.

Miraculously, the bell was undamaged and was hung in the rebuilt church. The church newsletter of February 11, 1923 reported, "Today for the first time since the cruel fire silenced its joyous song, the old bell will swing out anew its good news to the whole community."

The bell continued to "swing out its good news" for several decades, but now has been silent for many years. It was thought that the bell was not in condition to ever be rung again, but renewed interest in our church’s history this year prompted the staff to seek a professional assessment. The verdict was that the bell seems to be in good shape and the problem may be in the ropes, pulleys and supports. It may be possible that the bell that called the founders of First Church to worship will again peal out over downtown Topeka!