St. David's Episcopal Church

Outreach - A New Bell for Santiago de Jerusalen Church

The Bell has arrived! (March 2009)

Brothers and sisters,

I send greetings from the parish of Santiago de Jerusalén and San Andrés here in Chimaltenango. 

I send my most profound gratitude and am pleased to inform you that on Friday the 27th the bell arrived at the rectory after taking a little trip to my home in La Estancia Cantel in Quetzaltenango. This was because when it was finally released from Customs, my name and former address were on record.  They called me to say they couldn't find my house, and when I gave them directions to the rectory (in Chimaltenango), they said they were in Cantel. Then I asked them to take it to the office in Quetzaltenango while I called UPS. They apologized and dispatched it by express, and on Friday we received it. 

Today the bell was placed near the altar in the church where everyone in church had an opportunity to see and touch it, and everyone sends their thanks. Some of us shed tears of gratitude to God and asked for his blessing on all of you. Speaking for the members of my family and as the clergyperson of this parish, we are very grateful, and I'm sending you some photos. 

I have formed a commission to search for someone who can engrave the names of the two churches on the bell. This is to involve more members of the parish. Brother Nicolás measured the bell and the support where it will go, and in the next few days we will begin making the arrangements so that perhaps on Easter Sunday we will be ringing the bell. That's my idea. 

Please give our most profound thanks to all our brothers and sisters,

Miguel

The story of the bell ...

Austin Hepburn led a Men’s Work Trip to Guatemala in March 2008 and came back with one specific request from Padre Miguel Salanic to help improve attendance at Santiago de Jerusalen  Church in Chimaltenango; a bell. Church bells still signal people about Sunday services and other important events in the community. Santiago de Jerusalen has a bell tower,  but no bell.

When the steeple was demolished in preparation for our new Chapel the old railroad bell that was in it was kept in storage at the sheds, the same shed that Hepburn uses to store the sporting goods for the Fair.  He knew the bell, located it, found a company to restore it and the men from the 2008 Work Trip donated the money to pay for the restoration. Now when we can generate the funds we will ship it to Guatemala and one year later answer the request made by Padre Miguel and complete the Church that St. David’s parishioners helped to fund in 2004. 

Thank you Austin Hepburn!