Community Corner
Rejoice Bell at Saint Luke’s Church Refurbished, Reinstalled
The refurbishment of the bell was made possible by a generous donation and more hard work by long-time Los Gatos resident Suzanne Weiss. The refurbishment of the bell is in memory of her husband Joseph.
On Sunday, June 8, Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in Los Gatos will hold a community event to celebrate the reinstallation of the Rejoice Bell.
The bell, first installed in 1996, was removed for repairs in 2013. As a audible presence in the Old Town community, the bell ties together residents and visitors, as well as a rich historical tradition with modern technology.
The event, free and open to the public, will start with a reception in the parish garden at 10 am. The celebration will start at 10:30 am, with a traditional Episcopal liturgy following at 11:15 am. All are welcome.
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The Rejoice Bell replaced an earlier, hand-pulled bell. Up until 2012, the Rejoice Bell rang three times a day, as well as on special occasions. The bell has been quiet for the past two years because the shock of its swings in the bell tower was damaging the roof of the church.
The refurbished bell includes shock absorbers and an internal clapper that should protect the roof from 90% of the vibrations. The refurbished bell also comes with a high-tech electrical system and remote control, allowing the clergy or acolytes to ring several different tones – including the Angelus, which may date as early as the 13th Century – with top-of-the-line, modern equipment.
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Los Gatos residents and visitors can expect to hear the Angelus at noon and 6 pm starting on June 8. The bell will also be rung on Sundays and for other events.
The Rejoice Bell was first installed due to the hard work, dedication, and generosity of long-time Los Gatos residents Anne Louise and George Heigho. The bell is dedicated to all Saint Luke’s organists, choristers, and servers.
The refurbishment of the bell was made possible by a generous donation and more hard work by long-time Los Gatos resident Suzanne Weiss. The refurbishment of the bell is in memory of her husband Joseph.
Saint Luke’s is a historic, Spanish-style mission church. First built in 1883, Saint Luke’s is the oldest church in Los Gatos, and many of the Founding Fathers of the town were members.
Today, Saint Luke’s holds three liturgies on Sundays and one on Thursday evenings, in addition to several community outreach and support initiatives like the Pantry Program and the Sunset Concert Series.
The Church also holds frequent discussion classes on religion, poetry, and related topics. All liturgies and events are open to the public. At Saint Luke’s, everyone is welcome wherever they are on their spiritual journey.
To learn more, please contact
Pam Thistle
Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church Administrator
