Words and Light

On Tuesday, I climbed 115 steps (not including 14 landings) to reach the belltower of Christ Lutheran Church in downtown York. Twice.

The first time, church secretary Tracey led me up there so I could make pictures and do some video. You see, for the first time since 1884, the church’s main bell — the one that dates to 1800 and that strikes hourly — is silent due to repair work.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Chuck Roeser, a tower clock renovation specialist from Lockport, N.Y., is one of two clockmakers commissioned by Christ Lutheran Church to renovate its bell system. Roeser, a tower clock restoration specialist from Lockport, N.Y., and Bob Desrochers, a clockmaker from Lancaster County, have been hired by the church to renovate the clock and bell system. The larger bell, which dates back to 1800, is having its striker replaced to improve the sound of its ring. After the bell and various gears and cables are renovated, the clock will undergo renovations.

But when Tracey and I arrived, the workers were gone. There was no note nor any indication of when the workers would be back.

So, figuring the workers would return soon, I hung out in the top level of the belltower (not including the crawlspace right below the cupola, which is accessible by an upright ladder) for a bit. It was a little strange. Normally, when you’re high up in a building, you’re in an insulated, soundproof area. But in the belltower, you’re still exposed to the cold air, you can hear the street traffic below and yet you’re apart from it all.

That top level happens to be where the four clock faces are, as well as all the gears and rods and cables needed to synchronize the clock and the bell. There’s also a lot of dust and graffiti.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch.

Tracey brought the pastor up to talk to me, and I interviewed him as we were surrounded by the four clock faces. Shortly thereafter, when it was apparent the workers weren’t coming back too soon, I descended the belltower and returned the office. On my way down, I counted the steps and made more pictures.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch.

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Besides Apple’s iPad 2 announcement, today’s big news was that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of protesters’ rights at military funerals.

I didn’t know it until today, but the grieving father who sued Westboro Baptist Church for protesting his Marine son’s funeral and criticizing him on its website is from the York area. He and his lawyers held a presser in downtown York that was attended by more media than I’ve ever before seen in the area.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Flanked by counsels Craig Trebilcock and Sean Summers, Albert Snyder of Spring Garden Township approaches a press conference on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at the York County Administrative Center to address the U.S. Supreme Court's 8-1 decision in favor of Westboro Baptist Church's right to protest military funerals.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Albert Snyder, of Spring Garden Township, addresses the press at a conference on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at the York County Administrative Center to address the U.S. Supreme Court's 8-1 decision in favor of Westboro Baptist Church's right to protest military funerals. Snyder said, "It's been a long five years, and I'm ready to put this behind me and move on."

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