The Unity Bell Tower Story

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The Unity Bell Tower History: 

The  bell tower is the centerpiece of a courtyard located by the church  entrance.  The courtyard is made up of bricks which are available for  purchase and can be inscribed in honor or in memory of others: current  or past church members or other members of the community.  The bricks  are $30 for one line of inscription and $35 for two lines of  inscription.  Add a brick for you or your family!  It has a unique story  and a symbolism important to the congregation.

Bell Facts:
Both  WFUMC and CUMC bells were cast by the McShane Bell Foundry, in the late  1800s, and restored by the same foundry in 2012, after their removal  from their respective bell towers on June 15, 2011.  The Unity bell was  also cast by McShane.

Timeline:

 July 1, 2011.   Watervliet First and Coloma United Methodist Churches unite as one church -  the Coloma United Methodist Church.  Plans are soon underway to build a  bell tower to house three bells, one from each of the original churches,  and a new one to be purchased and eventually to be named The Unity  Bell, symbolizing two good churches uniting as one church to "make  disciples to transform the world".

June 12, 2012 Workers  from the Coloma United Methodist Church hung the restored Coloma and  Watervliet United Methodist Church bells in a new bell tower at the  church, to signify the merger of those two churches which took place the  summer of 2011 into the Coloma UMC facilities. 

---It is  determined that the third bell should ring with a pitch of E to blend  harmonically with the first two bells. The search begins and is expected  to be a long and tedious.

August 20, 2012:   The morning of August 20th, as the dedication litany was being  practiced (bell ringing included), it was discovered that there was a  mistake made in the recording of the bells' pitches.  Adjusting for that  mistake, the Unity bell needs to ring to the pitch of F sharp!  We are  now looking for an F sharp bronze bell. 

November 12, 2012.
A  possible third bell was located!  It had the required pitch of F  sharp.  Negotiations were accomplished!  We've listened to its sound in  combination with the two bells in our tower, and the sound is  beautiful!  Within the month the check is sent to McShane, and the bell  purchased.  The plan was made to remove it from its current location   and bring it back to McShane sometime in December.  Then McShane gave  our new Unity bell a good refurbishing, removed its previous engraving,  re-engrave it, and shipped it to us sometime in January or  February.  The Unity bell was engraved with the words "United in Christ  2011", in celebration of the unification of our two churches.

April 9, 2013:   McShane contacted Duane Carter to say the Unity Bell would be delivered  within the week!!!  Duane was sent a wonderful photo of the bell, all  refurbished, polished, and newly engraved with the legend "United in  Christ 2011".  Pastor Ron worked with District Superintendent Neil Davis  and Bishop Deb's offices to schedule a re-dedication of the bell tower  with all three bells in place later the summer of 2013.

April 12, 2013:  The Unity Bell was delivered and was displayed in the narthex.  It is  beautiful!

June 18, 2013, the Unity Bell was hung in the last open spot of the Unity Bell Tower.

January 2014:   The bell ringing mechanism was ordered.  The McShane bell company's aim  was that the system would be delivered and installed, ready to ring on  Easter morning!  The scrap drive continued.  Bricks may still be  purchased and donations made.

Easter Sunday 2014:  The bells (all three!) rang from the Unity Tower for the first time at  Easter Sunrise Services which were held outside near the Tower.  They  now ring Sunday to announce the beginning of services at 9:30 am., and  Monday through Saturday at 12:45 pm.!  

June 1st, 2014:  Unity Bell dedication with District Superintendent Neil Davis officiating. All present celebrated the final step in the long process  bringing the bells together into the Unity Tower,  

A comment from our Facebook page: "These bells symbolize the body of Christ, past and present in the Watervliet First and Coloma United Methodist Churches, now combined in one congregation as Coloma United Methodist Church.  Alleluia!"