A special addition to All Saints’ (Dunedin North Parish) Patronal Festival this year was the blessing of two bells in a recently installed belfry.

After the morning festival Eucharist service at All Saints on 3 November 2024, the congregation processed outside and were lead in prayers of blessing for the new cross and restored belfry on the apex of All Saint's Hall.

Vicar The Rev'd Canon Dr Michael Wallace writes:

"A couple of years ago the parish decided to reinstate the belfry and have a bell to announce services again.  The parish commissioned builder Peter Mason to design a belfry along the lines of the original one and reinstate it. Thanks to the generosity of Anglicans in Hampden and Middlemarch we have been able to install the bells from the former St. Stephen's Church Hampden and the former St. Chad's Church Middlemarch in the restored belfry."

For many years All Saints had a bell; from 1865-1873 in a belfry on the church itself, then either in a belfry on the church hall or in a freestanding structure.

James K. Baxter mentioned the bell:

“Then the bell of All Saints swung slowly in its steeple. ‘Requiescant. Requiescant in pace,’ it tolled. Faces and voices died. The ordinary sun stood over me in a blue sky of crumbled quartz. It was very pleasant to be a fat man of thirty walking down Cumberland Street in the sun.” Walking Up Castle Street, 1956.

 The belfry on All Saints' hall was removed at least 6o years ago.

Rev'd John Graveston, Rev'd Juan Kineer and Vicar The Rev'd Canon Dr Michael Wallace led prayers over the belfry (the bells had been blessed on a separate occasion on Palm Sunday this year), and after an enthusiastic countdown, bells pealed forth for the first time at All Saints after many years absence.

Prayers for the Blessing of the Belfry

Gracious God, your Son Jesus Christ was lifted high above the earth on a cross to bring us closer to you. We ask your blessing on this cross + which we have raised high above the earth. May it proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ to all who see it, may the disciples of Jesus who see it find in it protection and mercy. By it may we find strength to take up our own crosses, may it assist us to grasp the mystery of the cross more clearly and experience its power more deeply. Amen.

Gracious God, from the beginning of time your voice has called us, inviting us to communion with you, teaching us the mysteries of your life, guiding us on our pilgrimage. With silver trumpets Moses summoned Israel to gather as your people. Now you are pleased that the sound of church bells should summon your people to prayer. We give you thanks for the people of St Stephen's Hampden and St Chad's Middlemarch who commissioned these bells, we thanks you for the ministry of these bells in these places and that these bells now sound in Dunedin North.

By this blessing + accept this belfry into your service in this place. May it let the bells' voices direct our hearts towards you and prompt your people to come to this church, here to experience your presence, listen to your Word, celebrate the sacraments, offer you our prayers, and gather both in joy and sorrow. We ask this through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Watch and hear The bells being rung...

(Video gallery below: the last time that the bells were rung at St Chad's Middlemarch, and the 150th video of East Otago Parish featuring photos from St Stephen's Hampden).