🔔 The Story of Our 1,280-Pound Bell

If you’ve ever walked down Bay Street on a Sunday morning, you may have heard it—the deep, steady ring of Christ Episcopal Church’s bell. More than just a sound, it’s a reminder of the generations who have gathered here in Chippewa Falls since the 1800s.

A Bell With History

Our bell was first installed in 1882, when the parish was still known as Zion Church. At 1,280 pounds, it was—and still is—a remarkable presence in the Chippewa Valley. For decades, its ring has called people to worship, tolled in times of mourning, and celebrated moments of joy.

When the original wooden church was lost to fire in March 1897, the congregation salvaged what they could. The organ was destroyed, but the bell endured. Later that year, when the new stone Gothic Revival church was dedicated on December 12, the bell was raised into the new tower, where it continues to hang today.

🛎️ Did You Know?

• It weighs as much as a small car. At 1,280 pounds, our bell is about the same weight as a compact hatchback.

• It’s older than electricity in Chippewa Falls. The bell was installed in 1882, but electric street lights didn’t arrive in Chippewa Falls until later that decade.

• Not all bells survive fires. Many church bells in the 19th century cracked or melted in fires—ours was salvaged in 1897 and rehung in the new stone church.

• It can be heard half a mile away. On a quiet morning, the sound carries across neighborhoods near downtown.

More Than Metal and Sound

The bell is more than a historic artifact. It is the heartbeat of Christ Church:

• Calling to worship every Sunday at 10:30 AM

• Marking milestones in our community’s life

• Reminding us that faith endures through fire, change, and time

For many in their 40s and 50s who grew up in Chippewa Falls, the sound of the bell is tied to memory—walking to services with family, hearing it during parades or weddings, or pausing in silence as it tolled for loved ones.

Still Ringing Today

Nearly a century and a half later, our bell still rings strong. It connects us to the generations before us while inviting new generations to come and see.

Next time you hear it, take a moment to listen—not just to the sound, but to the story it carries.

The bell at Christ Episcopal Church is more than history—it’s a living voice, echoing faith, resilience, and welcome in the heart of Chippewa Falls.