History 3

Church History 3

The Staff Map and Directions Brochure Church History Church History 2 Chruch History 3 Roster of Pastors

History of Hopewell Church of God's Bell

The bronze, 1,000lb bell at Hopewell Church of God was cast in 1893 by the Vanduzen & Tift Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, 1891-1894.

The bell was originally installed in the newly built church's bell tower in 1893 and rung each week to announce the beginning of church services by young church members pulling on a rope and being lifted from the floor as it swung.
As the building aged it was obvious the old wooden steeple was beginning to deteriorate and the bell would be too heavy to be supported safely, so in the late 1970's the old wooden steeple was disassembled and the bell was taken down and installed on a concrete platform with a brick and sandstone cross by church member Richard Boos and dedicated to Ray Haugh another church member who had passed away. The bell remained there for the last 28 years being rung each week by children in the congregation pulling a rope.

	In the fall of 2007, Hopewell Church of God had nearly completed their recent renovation and it was decided that the bell should be moved to a more prominent place and displayed in a more historically accurate way. Once again calling upon Richard Boos (now 83) and Chris Daniels of Tom Daniels Construction, a design was created that replicated the original bell tower constructed in 1888.
Richard, with the help of his daughter Lydia laid out and began constructing the foundation for a brick and sandstone structure that would incorporate the original sandstone cross, as well as provide a beautiful flowerbed and mounting for two new church signs. Duane King, along with John & Lee Dewald and John King undertook the task of moving the bell and running the necessary electric lines and drainage for the new bell tower.
	The completed tower now stands as a landmark in Seneca County, at the corner of County Road 48 and Township Road 121. This new tower will be dedicated on September 7th, 2008 for Hopewell Church of God's 150th anniversary celebration. It is our hope and prayer that this bell will continue to sound a call to worship for the next 150 years for the residents of Seneca County.