Five Tonnes of Bells, Corroded Steel and a 1835 Tower: Inside a Bermuda Church’s Delicate Repair

• St John’s Anglican Church in Pembroke, Bermuda, began renovating its bell tower in January 2017
• Corroded steel beams and concrete slabs were being replaced with lightweight fibreglass beams
• Engineers had to protect a five-tonne brass bell assembly throughout
• The tower dates to 1835 and the first church on the site to 1621

Repairing an old church tower is delicate work, especially when it holds five tonnes of bells. The Royal Gazette reported on 11 March 2017 that a renovation of the bell tower at St John’s Anglican Church in Pembroke, Bermuda, which began in early January, was in full swing and expected to finish before Easter.

The work involved removing corroded steel beams and concrete platform slabs, installing lightweight fibreglass I-beams and slip-resistant decking, forming a new concrete slab roof and fitting new windows, all while protecting the church’s five-tonne brass bell assembly. The engineers were Mason and Associates Ltd, and the general contractor was Sunrise Construction Ltd.

“The tricky part of the whole operation is safely demolishing the existing concrete slabs and removing the existing steel beams without damaging the very heavy arrangement of bells,” said Kelly Harris, a professional engineer with Mason and Associates.

The tower was erected in 1835, and the first church on the site, a wooden building, dated to 1621. The report did not give the cost of the work or how it was funded.

The project shows how modern materials can extend the life of historic church structures. Fibreglass beams do not corrode like steel in a salty island climate, and choosing them reduces future maintenance.

Jamaica’s coastal churches face the same enemy: salt air that corrodes steel and cracks concrete. Many of the island’s church towers and belfries are centuries old. The Bermuda example suggests Jamaican congregations should have structural engineers inspect towers regularly and consider corrosion-resistant materials during repairs. Diaspora engineers and builders could offer expertise, and heritage bodies could help with the cost of work on listed churches.

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