Scenes from the Neighborhood

After years of silence, church bells ring again

		After years of silence, the bells of Holy Ghost Church ring out again and in greater number than before.

By Beth A. Booker

Old North Knoxville and surrounding  neighborhoods are blessed with many things. We became even more blessed in 2002 when Father Xavier Mankel and the parishioners of Holy Ghost Catholic Church at 1041 N. Central St. revitalized the church's bells. After years of silence the bells were rededicated and what was originally one bell became six. 

In 1907 the original sanctuary for the Holy Ghost Church was built as a temporary structure with a school in the upstairs portion of the building. The current sanctuary, designed by Sculte & Crowe Architects (nationally known for building churches), was built in 1925 as a celebration of Father Lewis Kemphus's 25th anniversary in the priesthood. In the early part of the 20th century it was customary to build a church in honor a priest's jubilee in the priesthood. The 1925 church included the 6 ½ story 20' x 20' bell tower, which was dedicated with only one bell. 

For many years the single bell rang out, but then fell silent. In 2002, renovation of the original bell and the addition of 5 new bronze bells was completed as the focal point fund raiser for the church's 75th anniversary celebration. 

The restoration cost in excess of $50,000. Money was raised from parish donations. The bells are from Holland and have the tones of the original Westminster chimes.

Because the bells weigh from 600 to 1250 lbs each, they couldn't be simply carried up the steps to the top of the tower. Instead, a crane was used and the bells had to be gently swung in through the openings at the top of the tower. Installation was done by Virden Co. of Cincinnati, OH and the bells are maintained by Standard Electric Co. of Knoxville.

The bells chime for three reasons:
1) to mark ¼, ½, ¾, and full hours,
2) to call parishioners to worship, and
3) at the funeral of a parishioner (1 bell for each year of life.) Father Mankel says if a parishioner has lived a very long life, he has to be careful when counting of the number of years.

If you listen carefully, you'll notice that the bells are silent from Holy Liturgy Thursday (before Easter) until Easter Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Out of respect for our residential neighborhood, the bells are also silent from 12 midnight until 6:15 a.m. each day. 

The 800 families who are members of Holy Ghost observe mass at: 7, 8:30, 10, and 11:30 AM on Sundays and at 6 PM on Sunday. A special mass, spoken only in Spanish is held at 8 PM each Saturday evening.

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