amber@northstarreporter.com
The bell from the original First United Methodist Church, a relic of local history, is about to embark on its next chapter.
After decades of resting in a garden at the current church on Hoppin Hill Avenue, the bell will be relocated to the North Attleborough Historical Society’s grounds.
According to North Attleborough’s town website, the original church, which stood at the southeast corner of North Washington and East Streets, was condemned in 1961. After the structure was deemed unsafe, the congregation temporarily held services in the Bristol Lodge Masonic Building until the new church was completed in 1963. However, a part of the old church remained: its bell.
Now, with the church having closed its doors permanently due to dwindling membership, the bell has been moved once again.
At a recent North Attleborough Historical Commission meeting, the North Attleborough Historical Society sought assistance from the town to move the bell. Rick Miller of Miller’s Family Farm volunteered to relocate the bell, using a Caterpillar front-end loader to unbolt it from its concrete base and lift it onto a trailer. The bell was temporarily moved to Miller’s farm.
“Come springtime,” Miller said, “the bell will find its new home at the Historical Society’s schoolhouse,” ensuring that this piece of history continues to be preserved.
While the First United Methodist Church may no longer host services, the relocation of its bell ensures that a piece of its history will live on, preserving the legacy of a church that has been central to the North Attleborough community for generations.
