Founded in 1869 as the first African Methodist Episcopal church in Houston, Texas, St. Paul A.M.E. Church has been a cornerstone of faith, resilience, and community for 155 years. In 1927, that spirit of service expanded with the establishment of the Richard J. Brock Elementary School, and today it continues with the provision of daycare and after-school programs serving the children of Houston’s First Ward community.
Now, the church is looking to resonate even wider with the construction of a new 30-ft. bell tower to house a historic bell that sits patiently in storage on church property. The bell was cast in 1889 by J. Regester & Sons Bell Founders and Brass Finishers in Baltimore, Maryland. At the time of casting, the foundry was under the direction of the sons of Joshua Regester (1816-1906), who had retired five years prior. Bells bearing the mark of J. Regester & Sons were installed across the nation, from Baltimore City Hall to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and from North Carolina State University to St. Dominic Church in Washington, D.C.
Image: Undated photograph of the façade and belfry at St. Paul A.M.E. Church before the congregation relocated in 2001. Courtesy: St. Paul A.M.E. Church.
The 28-inch bell for St. Paul A.M.E. Church is inscribed across the bell's waist:
BALTIMORE BELL FOUNDRY
J. REGESTER & SONS
BALTIMORE, MD
1889
The bell was shipped to the Texas congregation to mark moments of worship, celebration, and reflection. It swung and rang in a belfry adjacent to the church's main entrance. When the congregation moved to a new building in 2001, they brought their beloved bell with them, but having no place to hang it, the bell was placed into storage and fell silent.
It briefly emerged in 2018, when the church erected a temporary platform to exhibit and ring the bell. It hasn't rung since. That will soon change with the construction of a purpose-built tower, which promises to allow the bell’s rich tone to resound once again in the Lone Star State – returning it to pride of place as an enduring symbol of unity and faith.
At 135 years old, the bell is in remarkably good condition, with intact original fittings that are equally well preserved. This enables the congregation to focus resources on building the new bell tower, which is envisioned as a simple structure to enclose and protect the bell from the elements, while showcasing its historical and cultural significance. The church has tapped Kevin Rouse of Rouse House Tech-Nique Srvcs. for architectural renderings, and John Fox of Kingdom Structures, Inc. to complete the construction work.
Image: Architectural rendering of the proposed bell tower at St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Houston, Texas. Courtesy: St. Paul A.M.E. Church.
The church has yet to meet its funding goal to complete construction on the bell tower – and you can help. The congregation is asking the community at large to lend a dollar or two toward the cause, hoping to bridge the $60,000 funding gap. If you’d like to help keep this bell ringing in the heart of this deserving community, then consider donating to the bell tower fund at St. Paul A.M.E. Church. Your contribution will echo across time, allowing future generations to appreciate and connect with the church's rich heritage.
Cover image: The 1889 J. Regester & Sons bell on temporary display at St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Houston, Texas. Courtesy: St. Paul A.M.E. Church.
