On its lower hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, all around the lower hem, with bells of gold between them all around —a golden bell and a pomegranate alternating all around the lower hem of the robe.

~ Exodus 28: 33-34

From the time of the Israelites and the tabernacle, bells have been an important part of celebrating God’s love and work in history. From the bell choir to the ringing of the bells at certain hours of the day to the Liberty Bell in the courtyard, bells continue to be used to ring out the joy of our faith.

The bell in Courtyard was first placed near original church sanctuary in July 1976. It was a special edition facsimile of Liberty Bell built by Vivdon Bell Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. This bell was first mounted on sawhorses so that it could be used on July 4, 1976, at 2pm when it was rung for 15 minutes to celebrate the Bicentennial.  It was later placed in the Cross and Bell Tower of the original church where it was used prior to services for many years. 

After the new sanctuary was built, it required two to three people to ring it.  One was in the sanctuary to signal another person at the doorway of the Narthex who then signaled the bell ringer.  St. Stephen no longer used the bell once the carillon was installed in the sanctuary. After the old church was demolished to make way for the Community Life Center, the bell was moved along with a new tower into the courtyard and rededicated in 2014.