During
the estimates for replacing the roof of the church, it was brought to
our attention that the infrastructure of the bell tower was in a state
of deterioration. We thus had structural engineers visit the site and
provide us with a report. Their advice was that the bell had to be
brought down and the support structure repaired before anything could
be done to repair the roof.
The first step was to remove the
statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus from its niche in the front wall.
We then had to open the south wall of the bell chamber and had the bell
removed by a commercial crane. [photos of final paint job and trimming are yet to be posted]
Bringing down of the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Opening of the south wall of the bell chamber
Removal of the bell
was sandblasted and repainted
ready for its trip back to the steeple.
Return of the painted bell and wheel,
ready for re-installation in the steeple.
Hoisting of the bell
back into the steeple chamber.
Repositioning of bell
inside the chamber.
Bell back in its resting place,
ready for wall to be closed
Sacred Heart of Jesus statue,
being repainted after repairs.
Repaired and repainted,
S-H of Jesus statue is
ready for return to it niche.
Hoisted back into its
refreshed niche, the Sacred-Heart
of Jesus statue, once again
ovelooks Richer.
The bell tower chamber wall
repaired and ready for paint.
First sunset for the restored structure.