Somers Congregational Church Raises Bell

On Wednesday afternoon, the Somers Congregational Church reached another milestone as it raised the new bell into the bell tower.

Several hundred people gathered on both sides of Main Street to watch the new bell be hoisted into place and to celebrate the church getting one step closet to becoming whole again.

The ceremony began with the new bell being rung on the ground before being taken up to the bell tower by crane. When the ceremony ended, Rev. Barry Cass told the people that as they have been since the day of the fire, they are still part of this journey and are welcome as part is the church community as everyone watches the church take form.

The church has seen other milestones, but Cass said this is the best one so far.

"I really didn't think the bell raising was going to be too big a deal, but it really is exciting," he said. "There's 450-500 people here - on both sides of the street. Then ringing the bell. It's a great feeling. The support is still here and people are still excited by what's going on. It's great."

Now with the steel in place and the bell in the tower, the church is starting to look more like a building - and like what it used to.

"It's amazing, isn't it?," said Cass. "It's starting to look like a church. It's exciting."

Somers First Selectwoman Lisa Pellegrini says that she's very lucky because she gets to watch the progress from her office window across the street. 

"The installation of the bell was like a rebirth," she said. "Very moving and inspirational. Seeing the community band together to celebrate reinforces just how privileged we are to live in such a great town."

To keep up with progress at the church, check out its Web site and Facebook page.