If you have walked past the Tabernacle this year, you have noticed the quiet. The tower at 550 Wesley Avenue has stood empty since our thirteen historic bells were lowered by crane and sent to Ohio for restoration.
That quiet is about to end. The bells are restored, they are on their way home, and on Tuesday, October 13, crews from the Verdin Bell Company will begin setting them back in the tower. By the end of that week, the work should be complete.
We want to tell you the story behind these bells, because it is a better story than most people know.
13 Bells, 13 Colonies
These bells are far older than the tower that holds them.
According to the Tabernacle’s records, the set of thirteen was commissioned in the late 19th century to provide the music for a national celebration: the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the United States Capitol. Each bell represented one of the original thirteen colonies.
After their use in Washington, D.C., the bells were purchased by George Holl. In 1893 he gave them to the First Methodist Church of Camden, New Jersey, in memory of his parents, George and Catherine Holl. For generations they rang over Camden.
That gift is still written on the bells themselves. An inscription on one of them records that the set of chimes was given in memory of the Holl family.
From Camden to Ocean City
In time the Camden church closed, and Cooper Hospital, located across the street, bought the property. Rather than let the bells fall silent for good, Cooper Hospital gave them to the Ocean City Tabernacle Association.
Through the generosity of many friends of the Tabernacle, the bells were restored by the Verdin Bell Company of Cincinnati and raised into a new tower. On Sunday, June 14, 1998, that tower was dedicated to the glory of God and the service of the Tabernacle, in loving memory and in honor of loved ones.
The vision that day was simple. The bells would sound each day at noon and call people to worship on Sundays, and they would ring for the benefit of the whole community. For nearly three decades they have done exactly that, marking Sunday mornings, summer evenings, Memorial Day, and Independence Day.
The Restoration
Nearly thirty years of salt air and shore weather take a toll, even on bronze. Earlier this year the Tabernacle once again called on Verdin, the same company that restored the bells in 1998.
Verdin’s crews disassembled the bells in stages, lowered them by crane, and transported them to the company’s facility in Ohio. There they were refurbished and refinished over the months that followed.
“For nearly three decades, these bells have called people to worship and marked the moments that matter in the life of this island,” said Tom Sherf, Executive Director of the Ocean City Tabernacle. “We have missed that sound, and we know our neighbors have too. We are grateful to everyone whose generosity, prayers, and patience made this restoration possible.”
What to Expect the Week of October 13
Verdin’s crews begin reinstalling the bells on Tuesday, October 13, and expect to finish by the end of the week.
During that time you will see a crane and equipment staged around the Tabernacle at 550 Wesley Avenue. You are welcome to come and watch from the designated safe areas. It is not every day you see a 19th-century bell lifted into the sky.
If you take photos, share them and tag the Tabernacle. We would love to see the week through your eyes.
What Comes Next
There is something fitting about the timing. Bells cast to honor the thirteen colonies are coming home in the year our nation marks its 250th anniversary.
Once installation is complete, we will announce plans for a formal rededication, and we hope you will be there to hear the bells ring again. To stay in the loop:
- Follow the Tabernacle on social media for photos and updates during installation week
- Watch your email for the rededication announcement
- Visit octabernacle.org for the latest news
Since 1998 these bells have been part of the sound of Ocean City. Lord willing, they will be for generations to come.
Partner With Us
Each season, the Tabernacle becomes a place where people gather to hear the Word of God, worship together, and be renewed in their faith. Your support helps make that possible—strengthening a ministry that proclaims the Gospel, invests in the next generation, and provides a place where residents and visitors alike can encounter truth, encouragement, and community. By partnering with the Tabernacle, you are helping ensure that this work continues with clarity, purpose, and lasting impact.
