Shimla's historical Christ Church bell rings after 35 years
Tribune News Service
Shimla, December 24
The era of 1980s came alive on the eve of Christmas as the historic Christ Church bell on The Ridge rang this midnight after 35 years. The 150-year-old bell was working till 1980s but due to unavailability of spare parts and non-maintenance, it was abandoned.
There was nothing on the site and the structure was broken and removed. Now, it has been restored, says Victor Dean, a retired mechanical engineer, who took the responsibility to repair the bell on the request of the Church management.
The playing structure had been reconstructed, the missing parts were manufactured in Shimla and other parts were brought from Chandigarh. The bell had been renovated and was fully functional, he said, adding that it took 20 days to repair the bell.
Christ Church, Shimla, built in the neo-Gothic style in 1857, is the second oldest church in North India after St John Church in Meerut. It was designed by Colonel JT Boileau in 1844.
The bell used to ring 15 minutes before the prayer – it signalled that the prayers in the church was about to start.
This year the Christmas celebrations will also witness music of pipe organ after three years. The pipe organ was brought from England in 1899 at a cost of Rs 23,000. A British manufactured pipe organ was installed in 1899 which was extensively renovated in 1932.
Residents of the queen of hills as well as tourists were excited to hear the bell and it was a nostalgic moment for those who spent their childhood in and around the church.
Non-functional since 1980s
- The 150-year-old bell was working till 1980s but due to unavailability of spare parts and non-maintenance, it had been non-functional
- The playing structure had been reconstructed, the missing parts were manufactured in Shimla by Sardar Jagjit Singh and other parts were brought from Chandigarh
- It took 20 days to repair the bell
