The Sister to the Liberty Bell
When the original Liberty Bell cracked, it was given to a company for repairs and a new Liberty Bell was ordered from the same company in England who provided the first Liberty Bell, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The original bell was secured by a local company but the crack was not repaired and it was decided to keep it as it was. The new bell ordered in England became known as “The Sister of the Liberty Bell.” It was functioning for 76 years at Independence Hall. In the late 1820’s it was given to our parish and placed in the steeple of the original church.
On May 8, 1844 the original church was destroyed by the anti-Catholic riots. “The Sister Bell” fell and was shattered in many pieces. It was recast but in a much smaller version of its original self. The recast “Sister Bell” went to Villanova University whose roots are here in our parish. For 70 years at Villanova it rang calling students to class, chapel and meals. For 25 years it was at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, an Augustinian parish, in Jamaica, New York. It returned to Villanova and was placed in the Falvey Memorial Library for 64 years and for the next 16 years it resided in the Augustinian Heritage Room at St. Thomas Monastery on the campus at Villanova. Our Augustinian Provincial and his Provincial Council approved that it come “home” to its roots, St. Augustine Parish.
It returned “home” on Thursday January 13, 2022.
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Liberty Bell's Sister Bell on Display to Celebrate move to Independence Center
PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 7, 2003: Workers unveil the Liberty Bell's so called Sister Bell October 7, 2003 on Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 150-pound bell, originally cast in England in 1754 but recast after suffering damage in an 1844 fire and intended to replace the now-revered cracked Liberty Bell, will be on public display at the Independence Visitor Center until October 13, 2003 in commemoration of the Liberty Bell's move to the new Liberty Bell Center October 9, 2003. The Sister Bell, which rang at Independence Hall until 1830, has been stored at Villanova University since suffering damage in the 1844 fire. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)
Homecoming Ceremony on May 7, 2022
Click on photo for a larger view.
Click on photo for a larger view.
Sister Bell arrives home at Saint Augustine R. C. Church on January 13, 2022
The Sister of the Liberty Bell arrived in Philadelphia during the summer of 1754. It was purchased to replace the original Liberty Bell, which had cracked. When the Pennsylvania Colonial Assembly voted not to replace the original Liberty Bell, it was hung on a special cupola in front of the Liberty Bell, attached to the State House clock. Both bells rang on special occasions.
In 1830, Reverend Michael Hurley, O.S.A., Pastor of Saint Augustine Church, purchased the Sister Bell. On May 8, 1844, the bell was destroyed when members of the Native American Party burned Saint Augustine’s Church to the ground. The bell was recast in 1847 at a greatly reduced size. She was sent to Villanova College founded in 1842 by the Augustinian Friars who served at Saint Augustine Church.
The Sister Bell hung in a locust tree and was used to call the students to class, chapel and their meals 1847-1917. In 1917 she was sent to Jamaica Long Island and was used in the steeple of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Augustinian Church, but on September 20, 1942 she returned to Villanova for the inauguration of the Centennial year 1942-1943.
The Sister Bell returned home to Saint Augustine Catholic Church on January 13, 2022.
To learn more about the Sister of the Liberty Bell, please visit:
Click on the image above to see the Liturgy Aid from the Welcoming Home Ceremony on May 7, 2022
Click on the image above to see the Blessing Prayer from the Welcoming Home Ceremony on May 7, 2022
Photos of the Speakers from the Homecoming Ceremony - May 7, 2022
Fr. Bill Waters, OSA, Pastor of Saint Augustine Church, giving Welcome Remarks
Fr. Bill reciting the Opening Prayer
Ms. Sheila Hess, City of Philadelphia Representative, offering remarks on behalf of the City oh Philadelphia
Councilman Mark Squilla, City Council Member, delivering a Citation from the City in honor of the return of the Sister Bell
Mr. James Cuorato, Philadelphia Independence Visitor Center, Proclaiming a Scripture Passage, Leviticus 25: 1, 8-17
Most Rev. Timothy Senior, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, offering a Scripture Reflection
Photos from the Homecoming Ceremony - May 7, 2022
