Emmanuel Episcopal Church Bell - Opelika, AL - Bell Towers on Waymarking.com

This stone church stands out as one approaches. As one goes down the sidewalk toward the parish hall, the bell and its tower comes into view. I was not able to find any information on the bell, but it looks like it is ready to be used. There is a rope which can be easily reached and looks like it is used on a regular basis. I have an image of a child holding on the rope as it goes up and down after a service, but do not know if this happens. Unfortunately, I did not take a good closeup of the bottom of the rope when I was there.

The church itself is located at the corner of 1st Avenue and 8th Street in Opelika, Alabama. The bell is located on the 1st Avenue side. Emmanuel Episcopal Church stands on a hill above the street. Their story can be seen in the text of the marker:

"Organized in 1858, Trinity Mission was admitted to the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama on May 5, 1860. When the first church was consecrated on this site in 1862, it was renamed Emmanuel, meaning "God With Us." That building was destroyed by a tornado in 1869. The cornerstone for the present church was laid on Easter Day 1872. Built of native fieldstone from the Nelson and Sarah Carruthers Clayton Plantation north of Opelika, Emmanuel is the oldest public building in Opelika. Born of hope during Reconstruction, this little stone church stands as a testament to pioneer faith and endurance and remains a living monument to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

It is interesting to learn that when this congregation was admitted into the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, they were in the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. When the first church building was consecrated, it would have been as a parish in the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Confederate States of America. When cornerstone was laid, they were in the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The Episcopal Church reunited after the Civil War rather than splitting into Northern and Southern groups as did many denominations of the era.

The cornerstone says Easter Day, 1872. For those who are interested, that date was March 31, 1872.

Address of Tower: 800 First Avenue Opelika, AL USA 36803 Still Operational: yes Number of bells in tower?: 1 Relevant website?: [Web Link] Rate tower: Tours or visits allowed in tower?: Yes

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