On Friday, houses of worship across the county will ring bells for freedom
Old North Church in Boston commemorates the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride
On Friday, April 18, congregations across the country will come together in a powerful, symbolic act: ringing bells for democracy. Inspired by events from 250 years ago — when Boston’s Old North Church signaled the start of Paul Revere’s ride — churches throughout the area rang their bells in warning.
To commemorate this historic event, the Old North Church will ring its historic bells — the oldest in the United States — at 6 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday to honor the day the American people began their fight for freedom, liberty, and justice for all that continues today. Dr. Heather Cox Richardson, a renowned historian and author, will deliver a talk for the church’s Lantern Service, which will be livestreamed here.
Houses of worship across the country — and anyone else with a bell — will ring their bells at the start of services that day in solidarity with the Old North Church and to honor the nation’s historic struggle against tyranny.
Bells will ring from sea to sea tomorrow — from a lighthouse in Maine to historic churches, such as Boston’s Old North Church, New York City’s Riverside Church, St. Luke’s in Atlanta, St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church in Los Angeles, and scores more in between, including Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, Second Presbyterian Church in New York City and First Presbyterian Church in Mount Holly, North Carolina. Some, including the First Parish Church of Gorham, Maine, have actual Revere bells. For a partial list of houses of worship known to be participating, go here.
Let Freedom Ring! is cosponsored by the Center for Media and Democracy, the Old North Church, the National Council of Churches, the Maine Council of Churches, the North Carolina Council of Churches, the New York State Council of Churches, and Repairers of the Breach. The groups created this website, which contains more information, web videos, and resources for houses of worship and people who want to join the moment. They are urging houses of worship to ring their bells and all Americans to join with fellow congregants and friends to ring bells in their place of worship, parks and street corners.
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