St. Matthew's bells refurbished

On King Street, a crane gingerly plucked 13 bronze bells from the tower of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church and placed them on the back of a flatbed truck.

The bells came out Tuesday to be refurbished and also in order for the tower itself to be fortified. Brush Construction oversaw the delicate task of safely lowering the bells.

Christoph Paccard Bellfoundries will set the largest bell, which weighs 3,500 pounds, to swing. For more than a century, the bells have remained stationary. New strikers will also be fabricated for all the bells.

"A swinging bell throws its voice," said Stan Christoph, president of the Johns Island bell foundry. The bell's grand arc will be visible from across the street in Marion Square Park.

The Rev. James Blalock, interim senior pastor, said, "The Charleston downtown community will hear a real difference when they hear that bell."

Read more in tomorrow's editions of The Post and Courier.