During a recent chat with Cranaleith volunteer, Fred Trainer, Fred offered a brief history on the background on the antique bell, which is now located on the grounds of the Cranaleith Spiritual Center, near the main house. Fred, a descendant of Frank Trainer, who originally brought the bell to Philadelphia, shared the history and background of the bell.
In 1973, on a trip to Ireland, Frank Trainer came upon the bell sitting outside a hock shop in Limerick. He inquired about its history and was told that it used to be in the church steeple. When the townsfolk saw the Brits coming, they rang the bell to warn those “in the hedges” to hide, lest they be captured as slaves.
N.B. During the Irish Penal Laws, Catholic priests faced severe restrictions, including bans on public gatherings, forced registration, and even the threat of severe penalties, leading to secret Masses and underground Catholic education in “hedge schools”.
Eventually, the Brits tore the bell down from the steeple. Mr. Trainer felt the bell and its story were important to share. He had the bell shipped to Cranaleith and before he died, he asked that it be hung in a prominent space, inviting those who come to the Spiritual Center to ring out mercy and justice.
The bell was recently restored by volunteers Mike Ciccotti, Mark Reilly and Fred, as well as Ruben Joseph, Maintenance and Grounds Keeper. These four men set to work to restore the symbolic value of the bell. Fred commented, “Got as good as they gave from grace received working on the project to its end. Knowing the historical value of the bell when you pass by, eyes fall upon it, you can’t help feeling your heart open to the grace that enables your own sense of purpose and strength in alignment with the poor, against forces of oppression and injustice and your heart becomes grace filled.”
The symbolic value is in congruence with this mission to serve the poor and provide hope to those who are oppressed.
