St Patrick’s Cathedral Parramatta bells ring out across region
The peal of bells at one of Australia’s oldest churches can now be heard ringing out over a busy CBD, giving a nod to the saints.
Parramatta
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The sound of machinery churning in a Parramatta CBD heaving with construction is finally being punctured with the peal of church bells ringing at historic St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral at Parramatta.
Eight bells made their debut at church after the Christmas Eve Mass, a much-anticipated milestone that was pushed back from Easter following the coronavirus outbreak.
Six of the bells are more than 100 years old and were imported from the UK to the Marist Place landmark, which was rebuilt after the 1996 fire.
The bells are named after saints - Benedict, Bernadette, Brigid of Ireland, Bede the Venerable, Anne, Charbel, Michael the Archangel and Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
The other two bells have been specially commissioned and the heaviest weighs 405kg.
Fr Peter Williams, Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, which was founded in 1803, said the event was not just historic for the diocese but also for Australia.
The cathedral co-ordinated the project with the Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers, from tracking down suitable bells internationally, to working out the logistics of hanging them and who would ring them.
“Since 1853, the people of Parramatta have been waiting to hear the peal of bells, which, in the early days of our colony would remind them that it was time to attend church,” he said.
“This is not only a rewarding project for the parishioners of Parramatta, but, given our parish dates from 1803, it’s a historic moment for the whole of Australia.
“These bells finish off our cathedral which was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1996. They symbolise persistence, hope and regeneration.’’
The full eight bells ring together for 25 minutes from 10.30am each Sunday and one bell sounds each day at noon to signal the Angelus prayer.
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